Hearing Set in April for Man Charged in Church Rape

John Russell Carver made his first court appearance Friday morning after being charged with the Feb. 26 rape, assault and armed robbery of a woman at St. Timothy United Methodist Church on Memorial Drive.

Carver's preliminary trial was set for April 16, according to a court clerk. His request for bond will have to go to the superior court, she said. 

Carver is charged with raping, beating and robbing a church staff member who was working there alone on that Saturday. Police say the assailant forced his way in after the woman opened the door.  The woman had opened the door in response to the attacker's request for help, according to another church employee.

Carver was charged with the crime after DNA testing by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the DeKalb county police said.