Victim tells investigators of violent rape by businessman

(WMC) – The Eads, Tenn. man who was arrested on drug and firearms is back behind bars, this time charged with aggravated rape.

Mark Giannini, 48, was booked around 7:20 p.m. Wednesday and posted a $150,000 bond.

It was the rape allegation he was recently charged with that initially brought investigators to his home earlier this week.

Giannini is the founder of a local IT company called PackRat. He is also author of a book called The Tallest Pygmy. His online biography lists six community organizations with which he is involved. 

Now, he is accused of luring a woman to his home with the promise of a house cleaning job. According to the affidavit of complaint, he made her a drink that tasted like an orange push-up. When she told him she was ready to go home, he replied, "No, you're not."

Investigators say he then sexually assaulted her for the next three hours.

According to police, he told the woman it was her job interview. When she cried and said she wanted to go home, he said, "You don't like this?"

Investigators say Giannini's employee dropped the woman off at a motel where she had been staying with her family, who found her "in a mentally altered state and in and out of consciousness."

Nurses at Baptist East Hospital noticed she was foaming at the mouth as if she was having seizures or had overdosed. The woman was treated for injuries sustained to her neck, face, and the bleeding and bruising that happened to her body.

Investigators report finding Xanax, crushed up hydrocodone, and large amounts of alcohol at Giannini's house. The victim's clothing and an American flag towel that she told investigators he placed underneath her during the assault were also found.

"Let us be very clear that this is not over," said Chip Washington, Shelby County Sheriff's Office. "This investigation is not over and we are continuing to gather more and more evidence."

Giannini's attorney, Steve Farese, says his client is not guilty.

In addition to posting his bond, Giannini was required to surrender his passport. He will go back to court on July 8.