Thomas' bail set at $500,000

EPHRATA - Bail was set at $500,000 for the man accused of kidnapping and raping a woman from the Big Bend campus.

Prosecutors charged Jerald W. Thomas, 33, with rape in the first degree, kidnapping in the first degree and robbery in the first degree in Grant County Superior Court.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Evan Sperline set bail at $500,000 for Thomas.

He is scheduled to enter a plea Tuesday.

Thomas reportedly abducted a 19-year-old Big Bend Community College student at knife-point, while she was walking to her car in the college parking lot, according to the sheriff's office.

He allegedly forced the woman into her car, driving to a Moses Lake bank, and used the victim's debit card in an attempt to withdraw money from an ATM.

Thomas allegedly took the victim to the Moses Lake sand dunes, where he raped her, according to the sheriff's office. After the reported attack, Thomas tried to continue driving, but the vehicle became stuck and he fled the scene.

The victim was given a ride to the Washington State Patrol office from a passing motorist near the dunes.

She was transported to Samaritan Hospital for treatment, according to the sheriff's office.