Savannah man faces rape, kidnapping charges after hotel incident, detective testifies

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah Police detective testified Tuesday at the preliminary hearing for Ronald Anthony Glanton Jr., who is charged with rape and kidnapping-domestic violence in connection with an incident that occurred June 24 at a motel on Ogeechee Road.

Detective Holden of the Savannah Police Department testified that the alleged victim called 911 and that she responded to room 202 at 3822 Ogeechee Road, at the Savannah Garden Inn.

What the alleged victim told investigators

According to Det. Holden, the alleged victim, said she and Glanton Jr. were outside the room arguing about cheating allegations when he grabbed her, picked her up, and began carrying her inside.

She said she grabbed a balcony railing to resist, but Det. Glanton pulled her away from the balcony and carried her into the room, threw her on the bed, pulled her pants down, and allegedly raped her.

She said she was able to get away and ran outside with her pants still down, which detectives say was caught on surveillance camera.

Det. Holden testified that the alleged victim said Glanton penetrated her vaginally and that she did not consent.

She said she stopped physically resisting because he was hitting her in the head and face. After escaping, she ran downstairs, where Holden testified that Glanton Jr. followed her, running behind her, and shoved her to the ground.

Holden testified the alleged victim said she had been raped as she ran outside, though it was unclear whether she said that directly to bystanders.

She then sat in a nearby stranger’s car while calling police, Holden said.

Evidence presented

Holden testified that video footage from the motel was uploaded to the case file. She said facial features were clearly identifiable in the footage and she could not confirm whether it contained audio or a date and time stamp.

A sexual assault kit was collected that night and submitted to the property room. Holden testified that DNA results from the sexual assault kit returned male DNA.

DNA swabs were also collected from Glanton Jr. The alleged victim’s clothing was also collected and logged into the property room.

Holden said the alleged victim did not go to a hospital but was examined at a sexual assault advocacy center at Mary’s Place instead, where photos were taken as part of her exam. Det. Holden said she did not recall any significant injuries.

Holden said she interviewed the alleged victim at the motel and again at the advocacy center and that her interviews were recorded. No additional interviews of the alleged victim were known to have taken place.

Glanton’s statement to investigators

Holden testified that she interviewed Glanton after advising him of his Miranda rights.

According to Det. Holden, Glanton Jr. said the alleged victim did not want to engage in sexual relations with him that day, and that she said no — but Glanton told police, “When she says no, she means yes.”

He said he picked her up, carried her into the room, placed her on the bed and had just begun sexual penetration when she got up and ran outside saying she had been raped.

He also told the detective that his girlfriend is a prostitute.

“He told me, that’s how she plays, but he got the impression she didnt want to have sex that day,” the detective testified.

Bond status

At the conclusion of the hearing, Chief Judge Joe Huffman found probable cause on the charges and referred the case to a grand jury for consideration of further prosecution.

Chief Judge Huffman noted that under Georgia law, only a Superior Court judge may consider bond on a rape charge. Bond remains denied for Glanton Jr.

Glanton Jr. has previously served a 13-year prison sentence in the Georgia Prison System. He was just released in 2023.

He was sentenced to that time following convictions in Chatham County for armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime, possession of firearm-1st offender, and 2 counts of theft of motor vehicle.