Stephen Rehage, producer of both the Essence Fest and Voodoo Experience, has been arrested for the alleged rape of a woman in June. On Friday Rehage surrendered himself to New Orleans Police Department sex crimes detectives, who were serving a warrant for his arrest on one count of simple rape. [caption id="attachment_1276" align="alignright" width="300"] Photo Courtesy of nola.com[/caption] In June Rehage arrived late for a date with the woman who had been drinking martinis while waiting for him. The pair enjoyed a few more drinks before heading to a restaurant for cocktails. The woman remembers speaking to several people seated at the bar before blacking out. She then allegedly woke up naked in a bed with Rehage choking her. She managed to whisper, “stop,” and Rehage released her. After leaving the house, she had the staff at Interim LSU Public Hospital perform a sexual assault examination. They found vaginal tearing consistent with sexual assault and bruising around her neck. Her toxicology report later found that the prescription drugs propoxyphene and diphenhydramine were present in her blood. The drugs can produce drowsiness which is amplified by alcohol. At the time of the incident the woman did not wish to report to the police department, so it was classified as “unreported.” Rehage admits having dinner with the woman and their drinking throughout the date but only acknowledged, “her intoxication and behavioral change.” The full story can be read at nola.com.
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