Dancers Held at Gunpoint After Refusing Sex Act: Update

Note: This post was updated May 30, 2017, to reflect the not guilty finding at trial and add comments from the defendant's attorney.

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Two women who reportedly refused to perform a sex act with an Annapolis man were threatened at gunpoint before escaping the house, police say. The Capital-Gazette reports the women told Anne Arundel County Police they are private dancers who were called to a nearby house.

Roger Thomas Cole Jr., 50, of the 800 block of Coachway in Annapolis, was found not guilty at trial of two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, firearm use in a felony or violent crime, reckless endangerment and prostitution.

Vanessa M. McGill, attorney for Cole, told Patch that Cole was arrested based upon the "fabricated and baseless accusations of two individuals who were seeking a quick payout from a man they perceived to be of great wealth. There was no evidence of assault nor corroboration of the statements of the accusers."

The case has caused Cole to suffer irreparable damage to his name, reputation, business, and most importantly, to his family, McGill wrote in an email.

After the women refused the sexual request, they told police that Cole grabbed one of the victims and pointed a handgun at her head. When the second woman intervened, Cole allegedly grabbed her and placed the gun under her chin.

As one of the women picked up a cell phone, police say Cole threw the phone against a bedroom wall. The victims escaped the home and called police.

When detectives served a search warrant at Cole’s home, they reportedly found numerous pieces of evidence that corroborated the victim’s account of the incident.

Cole was charged with, and later acquitted of:

• Two counts of first-degree assault
• Two counts of second-degree assault
• Firearm use in a felony or violent crime
• Reckless endangerment
• Prostitution

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Greg Pamer at 410-222-6155.

»Photo of Roger Cole Jr., courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police