Woman pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting disabled woman

A 60-year-old Columbus woman pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon in Recorder’s Court to sexually assaulting a woman who is mentally and physically disabled.

Defendant Deborah Starks, who was apprehended at her home at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, faces one count each of exploitation of disabled adult and sodomy. She was ordered held in the Muscogee County Jail on bonds totaling $50,000.

The case was bound over to Superior Court.

According to Columbus police, a man close to the victim reported the incident on March 29 around 3 p.m. He said the 36-year-old victim told him that Starks performed oral sex on her in a residence near Talbotton Road. It’s unclear when or how often the incident reportedly happened.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Woman pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting disabled woman."