From:    J. M. A. Guthrie
Subject: Gay Rape

From the March 16, 1991 Columbus _Dispatch_
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"Ex-Leader of Gay Group Indicted in Rape Case"
by Catherine Candisky, _Dispatch_ staff reporter

A Franklin County grand jury handed down a four-count indictment yesterday
against the former president of a gay rights organization who is accused of
date rape.

Russell A. Stalk, former president of the Stonewall Union, was indicted on
two counts of rape, one count of sexual penetration and one count of
kidnapping.  Each charge is a first-degree felony and carries a maximum
sentence of 25 years.

Stalk, 32, of 1224 Summit St. remained in the Franklin County jail last
night  in lieu of $75,000 bond.

A Newark, Ohio, man says he went to Stalk's apartment Feb. 5, where Stalk
tied him, choked him with a necktie and repeatedly assaulted him sexually.
The 24-year-old man said he testified before the grand jury for more than
two hours yesterday morining.

He said he met Stalk the night of the attack at the Columbus Eagle Bar at
232  N. 3rd St.  The men had a few drinks before going to Stalk's North Side
apartment, the man said.

After attacking him, Stalk drove him back to his car and he returned to
Newark  and obtained medical treatment for facial burns from being splashed
with  chemical snuff, he said.

Stalk resigned his position with the Stonewall Union shortly after he was
arrested Feb. 13 at the adult bookstore he managed on Harrisburg Pike.  He
had  been elected president in September and was outspoken in his fight
against  anti-gay violence.  Stalk encouraged gay victims to report crivms
against them  and worked to increase public awareness of crimes of bias.

Stalk served four years of a six- to 25-year sentence for the 1979 rape of a
12-year-old boy in Lima, Ohio, state prison records show.  He was released
from parole in November 1985.