Man accused in 2014 rape arrested at UC hospital

After more than six months on the run, a man indicted on two counts of rape, felonious assault, abduction and kidnapping charges was arrested at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Wednesday after he was admitted with a gunshot wound in the leg.

Kenneth Altman, 37, was arrested by the Cincinnati Police Department almost a year after he allegedly escaped from a work release program in Scioto County in 2014.

"We've been told that he was a victim of a gunshot wound to the leg," said Det. Dan Malone of the Scioto County Sheriff's Office. "He claimed to the hospital that it was self-inflicted, but we're thinking differently here."

Altman is listed as one of three defendants relating to a January 2014 incident in Scioto County where a woman alleged she was raped, abducted and assaulted by Altman with the assistance of two other women -- Stacy Lewis, of Peebles, and Shellie Bennett, of Lucasville, Malone said.

Lewis and Bennett have both been indicted on felonious assault, abduction and kidnapping charges.

"The other two defendants aren't in our custody yet, but we'll probably begin getting them into custody next week" Malone said. "We have been waiting to make an arrest on Altman first."

Altman got away from authorities while his work release program was working in a Scioto County cemetery in early 2014, according to Malone.

"He was in the program under misdemeanor charges before the indictment was filed in the summer," Malone said. "By the time the indictment went through, he was on the run."

Altman faces escape charges in addition to the indictments from the January 2014 incident. Altman also has a charge filed from Brown County for failing to pay child support, according to arrest documents.

Altman is currently being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center.

"We expect to have him in [Scioto County Jail] by next week," Malone said.