Man who tried to kidnap woman arrested again, SC cops say. Here’s the new charge
A South Carolina man who was recently arrested after a woman was assaulted during an attempted kidnapping has been charged with a new crime Monday, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
Timothy Ulness was taken into custody again after investigators found sexually explicit images and videos of children on his cell phone, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
Ulness, a 24-year-old Elgin resident, was charged with third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, Richland County court records show.
Ulness was first arrested Aug. 5, when he was charged with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and kidnapping, the sheriff’s department said.
During a search from that arrest, investigators found hundreds of files containing sexually explicit images and videos of children on his device, according to the release.
The exact number of images and video containing sexually explicit material of children on Ulness’ cellphone wasn’t available, but the sheriff’s department said it intends to bring more charges as the investigation continues.
Ulness was taken into custody again on the new charge, and he’s currently behind bars at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, jail records show.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, the sheriff’s department said.
On Aug. 7, Ulness was released after posting a $100,000 bond on the combined charges from the first arrest, according to court records.
At about 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 2, a woman was riding a bicycle on Miles Road when she was hit by a vehicle, the sheriff’s department said. That’s in a part of Columbia between Interstate 20 and U.S. 1.
The driver — later identified as Ulness — got out of the vehicle, but did not offer aid to the victim, who suffered major lacerations and abrasions to her body and face, according to an incident report. Instead, he began to assault the woman by hitting her in the face and putting her in a chokehold, the sheriff’s department said.
He then attempted to drag her to his vehicle, according to the release.
The woman fought back and was able to break free, and Ulness left in his vehicle once the victim escaped, the sheriff’s department said. Before he drove away, Ulness tried to run over the victim again, according to the incident report.
The woman called 911 and provided a vehicle description to deputies, the sheriff’s department said. She suffered lacerations, abrasions and a broken finger and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to the release. Further information on her condition was not available.
Deputies identified the vehicle involved in the incident from the victim’s description and later identified Ulness as the man wanted for kidnapping and assault, the sheriff’s department said.
Sheriff Leon Lott said he plans to attend Tuesday’s bond hearing to “request Ulness receive an appropriate bond.”
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