Authorities ID Suspect in Paulding Craigslist Rape

A bartender who offered her services in a Craigslist ad was held against her will and raped.

Christopher Michael Smith, 37, allegedly contacted the victim, explained that he was having a Memorial Day party and wanted to hire her.

"Once the victim was picked up by Smith on the evening of the supposed party, she was taken back to his Mt. Tabor Church Road residence where the rape took place," Paulding County Sheriff's Cpl. Ashley Henson said. "Once the incident was over, the victim was then taken back to her vehicle and instructed not to call law enforcement officials or else."

Smith was arrested Wednesday on charges that include rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, kidnapping and battery, Henson told Dallas-Hiram Patch.

He is in the Paulding County Detention Center without bond.

"Considering the way in which this crime occurred," Henson said, "detectives believe that there is the possibility that there may be other victims that have not come forward."

Anyone who may have had contact with Smith in the past is asked to call the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 770-443-3015. 

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