By Joe Johnson
An Athens bar owner was indicted this week for allegedly raping a customer three months ago in one of the two downtown establishments he owns.
David Ellis Ippisch, 38, was charged with rape and kidnapping, according to the indictment that was filed Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court.
According to Athens-Clarke County police, the alleged assault occurred Nov. 25 at The Hedges on Broad, one of two bars Ippisch owns near the University of Georgia that are popular student hangouts. He also owns the 100 Proof bar.
Police alleged that Ippisch pulled the 21-year-old victim against her will into a bar storage room where he raped her. A detective suggested that the victim might have been drugged prior to the assault.
One of Ippisch’s three defense attorneys claimed that the sex was consensual.
Western Judicial Circuit Judge Eric Norris denied Ippisch’s request for bond on the grounds it would be “likely” that if released from custody, Ippisch would commit another felony and posed a risk of influencing witnesses.
The judge also heard testimony that Ippisch might be a flight risk if released from custody – when police searched his home at 909 Broad Street apartments, investigators reportedly found a computer that had a list of 94 women with whom Ippisch supposedly had sex, a large safe, and a “go-bag” that contained cash IDs, drugs and a credit card that would not be able to be traced back to Ippisch.
Ippisch coninued to be held without bond at the Clarke County Jail.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 2.