Jury selection has begun in the trial of a man accused of attempting to rape a woman while she slept in 2013.
40-year-old Shane Heiman was accused of “perfecting” his attacks on local women after two similar instances were recorded in a two-month period.
Potential jurors were quizzed on their understanding of “beyond reasonable doubt.” Public Defender Josh Cooley stressed that there can be no assumptions of guilt based on second-hand evidence and jurors must consider the direct evidence, putting aside personal feelings about the “disgusting” nature of the charges.
Heiman stands accused of breaking into a cabin on Tobacco Lane on December 13 of 2013. The 23-year-old female occupant said she woke to find Heiman standing over her with a knife and a head lamp. She was able to escape to the residence of a nearby relative, but was traumatized by the incident.
She identified Heiman by name; he had been working for her family as a handyman. She said he shut off the power to her cabin before the attack.
In November of 2013, Heiman allegedly attacked another woman; this time an 18-year-old was abducted from her apartment in Soldotna. The woman said Heiman entered her apartment around 4am and tied her up at knifepoint. She reported he had a head lamp in his hands. After he assaulted her in his truck, the woman was able to escape near Skyview High School.
Another similar charge was made in 2008 for criminal trespass. In that case, Heiman was convicted of illegally entering a home around 2:30am. A 23-year-old woman woke to find Heiman sitting at the end of her bed. According to police, she “freaked out” and woke her parents. Her father confronted the intruder, forcing him to flee.