By CHAD ABSHIRE

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSON - Two men were arrested yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting three women throughout the month of December.

Williamson Chief of Police C.D. Rockel told the Daily News that Christopher Alan Cline, 39, and Jerry Marshall Cline, 38, both of Williamson, were taken into custody by the Williamson Police Department without incident.

The two men are brothers.

“This all stems from several complaints received by the police department,” Rockel said. “Over the last four weeks, we’ve had three sexual assaults reported.”

The first alleged assault happened on Dec. 3, with another happening Dec. 11. The most recent assault allegedly occurred last weekend.

“One victim was found with her clothes ripped on Second Avenue,” Rockel said.

It was reported to the police, who then responded to the victim while she was at the hospital.

Two of the victims want to prosecute, Rockel said, but a third does not.

Rockel said that the two accused men knew each victim and partied with them. Afterwards, the women were drugged and sexually assaulted.

Because of that, Rockel said he didn’t feel that there was a serial rapist in Williamson, but that “it had the makings of becoming one.”

“We felt that general public did not have to worry,” Rockel said. “They (Christopher and Jerry Cline) knew each victim.”

The two men weren’t attacking people at random, he said.

However, Rockel said that he did fear another sexual assault could have occurred with New Years coming up this weekend, which was why he immediately executed the arrest warrants.

“With the alcohol that usually coincides with New Years, we were afraid it would happen again,” Rockel said.

Christopher Cline was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual assault. His brother, Jerry Cline, was charged with one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

Christopher Cline was arraigned before Magistrate Dee Sidebottom yesterday, and received a $250,000 cash bond. His brother, Jerry Cline, was also arraigned before Sidebottom, and received a $150,000 cash bond.

Rockel said the max penalty for second-degree sexual assault was 10 to 25 years in prison, and a $10,000 fine. For the conspiracy to commit, it was 1 to 5 years, plus up to a $10,000 fine.

Rockel said that the majority of the WPD has worked on and will continue to investigate the case, as it might not be over yet.

“There may be another individual involved,” Rockel said. “There could be another arrest made and charges may be pending as well.”

While everyone is innocent until proven guilty, Rockel said that “neither man was a stranger to the law.”

“Back a few years ago, during a major drug round-up,” Rockel said, “He (Christopher) threatened my life, and said he’d put me in a pine box.

“But it was ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir’ when we got them. They were very cooperative.”

Both men are lodged at Southwestern Regional Jail, in Holden.