- November 06, 2024
Ypsilanti-area realtor sent to trial for allegedly raping neighbor
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – An Ypsilanti-area realtor has been sent to trial on multiple
charges of criminal sexual conduct after allegedly raping a neighbor.
Raymond Smith was acting in a “predatory nature” when he pre-packed a bowl of
marijuana before the arrival of a woman who claims Smith raped her later that same
evening, said 14A-1 District Court Judge J. Cedric Simpson said during Smith’s Oct. 29
preliminary examination.
While there was no evidence of any other chemical in the bong that evening, Simpson
said he took note that it had been arranged before the woman’s arrival.
“She smoked; he didn’t. And the next thing you know she is in this state of being in and
out of consciousness,” Simpson said. “I think he knew exactly what was going to happen.
I think he knew exactly what he wanted to have happen.”
Smith was sent to trial on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and two
added counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is accused of assaulting a
neighbor in September 2023.
The woman, who testified at the examination, said she had known Smith for several
years since she had moved across the street from Smith’s Ypsilanti Township home. The
pair would text, smoke marijuana together and she would ask him for rides in exchange
for cleaning his house, she said.
She had come over around 8 p.m. that evening to smoke. The next thing she remembered
was being nude while he assaulted her, she said.
“He asked me if I liked it, and I said, ‘no, stop,’” she testified, tearing up. “I didn’t
understand what was going on. I didn’t understand why. I trusted him. Even though he
creeped me out, I trusted him.”
MLive/The Ann Arbor News does not name victims of sexual assault. The woman was
injured in the incident, she testified.
The woman said she had previously told Smith she was not interested in him
romantically and that he had repeatedly made “inappropriate” comments, including
asking her to wear a maid’s outfit while she cleaned.
John Freeman, Smith’s Troy-based criminal defense attorney, said text messages
between the pair showed otherwise.
“Our take on the evidence – and I think is borne out by the record and the questioning –
is that there was a long-standing ‘more than friends’ connection between the
complainant and Mr. Smith,” Freeman told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.
Freeman also claimed the woman had previously discussed sex with Smith in exchange
for money and rides via text, an argument which Simpson quickly shut down.
“I’m not going to have somebody come up on this stand – I don’t care what kind of case it
is – and you make that accusation against somebody’s character, if you’re going to do
that, you better have something other than some innuendo to back it up,” Simpson said.
When Freeman was allowed to question the woman regarding the text messages, she
told the court the text messages were referencing smoking marijuana and cleaning
Smith’s home.
Freeman also alleged the woman had lied about being assaulted as part of a larger plot to
drive Smith out of the condominium complex they both lived in at the time.
“So what you’re putting forth to the court is that she made this complaint, and then does
a (personal protection order), for the sole purpose of supporting someone else to drive
him out of the complex,” Simpson asked.
“Oh, for Pete’s sakes,” the judge said when Freeman affirmed that was part of the
defense, before he rose from his chair. “Court’s in recess.”
Smith has been vocal about his criticism of how current and former board members have
handled management of the complex, Freeman told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.
Smith, the owner of Ray Smith Real Estate, has also spoken out against crime in
downtown Ypsilanti, saying the city has not been managing safety and crime in the area,
according to previous reporting. Freeman said his client’s previous stances are unrelated
to being “falsely accused.”
After binding Smith over, Simpson also raised his bond from $25,000 to $100,000. Smith
is set to appear before Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Arianne Slay on Dec. 23.