Airline pilot from Buford charged with rape

ROANOKE, VA - A pilot for United Airlines is facing a charge that he raped a female flight attendant during a stopover in Roanoke. <br> <br> Ray Kinnery Walley, 39, of Buford, Ga., appeared in Roanoke General District Court on Friday. Walley was arrested there on the rape charge May 20, said Roanoke Deputy Commonwealth&#39;s Attorney Betty Jo Anthony. <br> <br> The flight attendant, who is not being identified because of the nature of the crime, was raped in a hotel room Jan. 13, Anthony said. <br> <br> ``Mr. Walley looks forward to resolving this charge and clearing his name as quickly as possible. He is innocent,&#39;&#39; defense attorney Paul Beers said after the hearing, <br> <br> Walley, who said in court that he has a fiancee in Georgia, also said he had been placed on administrative leave by United Airlines after the incident. He worked as a pilot for the company for 12 years, Walley said. <br> <br> The investigation began after the flight attendant reported the incident to Roanoke police, Anthony said. <br> <br> Walley&#39;s co-pilot was also investigated in connection with the case, Anthony said. The co-pilot, whom Anthony did not name, agreed to a DNA test and ``was not a match,&#39;&#39; Anthony said. He has not been charged. <br> <br> Neither the co-pilot nor the flight attendant are from Virginia, Anthony said. <br> <br> Roanoke General District Judge Jacqueline Talevi ordered Walley to turn over his passport and pilot&#39;s license after Anthony argued that Walley might try to flee. Talevi also ruled that Walley must submit to DNA testing before she released him on $5,000 bond. <br> <br> A preliminary hearing is set for July 18.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/6/194048