Man on trial in Mahaska County for allegedly attacking realtor

Trial gets underway soon in an assault case of a man accused of elaborately planning his attack.Jury selection begins Friday in Mahaska County District Court in the trial of an Oskaloosa man for the rape and beating and robbery of a real-estate agent north of New Sharon on September 27th. 37-year-old Anthony Schmidt has pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery, sexual assault and being a habitual criminal. Schmidt has been jailed since he was arrested the day after the incident. Sheriff Charles Van Torn says Schmidt arranged for an evening showing of a home in the New Sharon area, and when he arrived he made threats against the woman and her family. He allegedly then raped her and stole her cellphone and 400-dollars cash. Police were told of the incident by emergency personnel at the Mahaska County hospital, where the victim went for treatment after the attack.