Man Accused of Holding Woman Captive Has Domestic Violence Past

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) –“He threw her head into a wall and jammed it into a wall,” says Lexington County Sheriff, James Metts

When Paul Rawl appeared in Lexington bond court Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t his first time appearing before a judge. 

He’s currently charged with Sexual Assault, Kidnapping and Criminal Domestic Violence in a High and Aggravated Nature. 

“He pointed a bow and arrow at her head and told her he was going to kill her,” says Metts

Rawl’s arrest record shows a long history of CDV charges. 

“He has had numerous arrests that he’s, you know, a continuous offender, has never been held appropriately accountable,” says Rebecca Williams-Agee, South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. 

Since 1987, Rawl has been arrested four times for domestic violence. Williams-Agee says cases like this are contributing factors to the South Carolina’s #1 national ranking of women killed by men. 

“The homicides and these murders that gets us ranked number one, that’s not the first incident, domestic violence and violent relationships don’t begin with a homicide,” says Williams-Agee

Since 2003, the Criminal Domestic Violence charge has gone under a first, second or third offense. 

“Recognizing with each charge the dangers increase for that individual,” says Williams-Agee

But, only Criminal Domestic Violence third offense or high and aggravated nature are felonies and even still, Williams-Agee says the law isn’t always followed as it should be. 

“We know that batterers will continue to batter if there’s not intervention of some type. Whether it’s with the same victim or they move to another victim, that behavior doesn’t go away,” says Williams-Agee.