Accused Rapist Held on $2-Million Bail

ST. CLOUD -- A St. Cloud man has been charged with first degree criminal sexual conduct after he allegedly raped and beat a young woman early Monday morning.

21-year-old James Bryson is being held on $2-million bail without conditions or $800-thousand with certain conditions.

He is accused of meeting a 21-year-old woman in the early morning hours and going with her back to her apartment. According to the criminal complaint, Bryson immediately started punching the woman in the head and body and choking her to the point where she thought she was going to die.

Bryson is accused of repeatedly raping the woman for approximately two hours until she was able to escape to a next door apartment.

Police arrived to find the woman's apartment in disarray with blood and objects scattered around the apartment. She was taken to the hospital for treatment of multiple cuts, bruises and swelling. Police were able to find a pair of jeans at the scene with Bryson's wallet inside.

Soon thereafter, they were called about a man in the Mississippi River. Bryson was identified and convinced to exit the river. He was arrested wearing only a white t-shirt and naked from the waist down. Police say he admitted to assaulting the woman.

Bryson's next court appearance has not yet been set.