Christopher Francis: Accused of raping, beating woman on Ocean Ridge beach

This morning, a judge ordered that 30-year-old Christopher Francis be held at the Palm Beach County Jail in lieu of $111,000 bond and to have no contact with the woman. Francis is facing charges of sexual battery, battery by strangulation and battery.

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s detectives began working the case after they received a report of a dating violence incident from Wellington Regional Medical Center on Wednesday.

The woman, whose age and name are withheld in the report, said she met with Francis on Tuesday night to discuss the status of their relationship. She said that as they were walking on the beach, Francis became angry and began punching her, according to the arrest report.

She said that he raped her multiple times as he continued to beat her, the report said. She also said he choked her once. The whole ordeal lasted into the morning hours of Wednesday, she said.

Francis told the woman over the phone that he did not remember what happened when the two met because he was “intoxicated,” according to the report. He later added that he remembered at least one part of the night.