Jocobus Mirunus Vermeulen, 24, had a first appearance in court Wednesday. Gaston County Assistant District Attorney Brandon Graham asked the judge to increase Vermeulen’s bond from $100,000 to $500,000.
“He does have HIV, and the state would maintain that he is a danger to society,” Graham said to District Court Judge Ralph Gingles.
Gingles granted Graham’s request and raised the bond. Three members of Vermeulen’s family attended the hearing but did not speak during the proceedings. According to investigators, Vermeulen had several people at his
A 30-year-old Kannapolis woman came to meet a relative of Vermeulen’s, with whom she had communicated online, according to investigators. An arrest warrant says Vermeulen raped the woman while she was unconscious after having a seizure. The woman reported the incident to Gastonia Police. Officers arrested Vermeulen on Tuesday.
“It takes time to investigate these things,” said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt.
Investigators have had to request medical documents in the case and were apprehensive about sharing the medical histories of Vermeulen or his accuser. Neither investigators nor prosecutors would say whether Vermeulen wore a condom during the alleged rape.
Vermeulen has been charged with second-degree rape. His medical condition does not legally justify additional charges but could add an aggravating factor, according to Gaston County District Attorney Locke Bell. An aggravating factor increases a person’s punishment if he is found guilty, Bell said.
Bell said the matter will go before a grand jury as soon as possible. The grand jury would have the option of adding the aggravating factor to an indictment. Vermeulen said in court he intends to hire his own attorney.
According to arrest records,
You can reach Diane Turbyfill at 704-869-1817 and twitter.com/GazetteDiane.