Rape, Attempted Rape Charges Filed Against North Bethesda Man: PD

BETHESDA, MD — A North Bethesda man has been charged with multiple sex offenses after he attempted to rape a woman at his apartment in 2017 and reportedly drugged and raped another woman in 2019, according to police.

Authorities say Austin Blaine Vann, 29, of Old Georgetown Rd., met a woman at a party in July of 2017. The victim placed items in Vann's car, but failed to retrieve them before leaving the party.

The woman later contacted Vann to get the items. In October of 2017, Vann showed up at her residence without the belongings and said she needed to get them from his apartment.

While waiting outside Vann's apartment for the items, he pulled her inside and proceeded to assault and attempt to rape her, according to Montgomery County Police. The apartment, officials say, was vacant at the time of the attack.

Vann was arrested in California on March 1, 2018 and extradited back to Maryland.

The North Bethesda resident was charged with attempted first-degree rape, attempted second-degree rape, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and fourth-degree sex offense, court records reveal. He was later released on bond.

In January of 2019, while Vann was out on bond and awaiting trial, he met a woman at a restaurant in North Bethesda. She told police that she had met Vann through social media and has been communicating with him via text messages.

The female victim reportedly left her drink unsupervised several times while going to the bathroom. According to authorities, she found herself in the bathroom of an apartment building, where Vann was having sex with her without her consent. The victim told police that she did not remember leaving the restaurant and was unsure where she was at the time.

Vann was arrested by police on March 25. He was charged with second-degree rape and is currently at the Montgomery County Detention Center in Rockville awaiting trial, officials said.

Police are concerned there may be other victims. Anyone with information is urged to call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.