A man accused of telling a woman he worked for the sheriff’s office before threatening to take her to jail if she did not engage in sexual activities with him pleaded guilty to three charges in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas Friday morning.

Thomas Unger, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of rape, a first-degree felony, one count of abduction and one count of impersonating a peace officer, both third-degree felonies.

On April 8, 2018, a woman — who will be referred to as “the victim” — went to the Muddy Boot Bar to meet up with some friends. While at the bar, a man, later identified as Unger, approached the victim and began conversing with her as if he knew her. He even referenced information about the victim’s family during their conversation, according to Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch.

The victim later accepted the offer for a ride home from Unger after the bar had closed.

While driving the victim home, Unger told her that he was working under cover for the sheriff’s office and that the victim had a warrant out for her arrest. The victim informed Unger she did not have a warrant. He told the victim that if she did not engage in sexual activity with him, he would take her to jail.

The victim told Unger to take her to jail.

Unger then pulled his vehicle over, tore the woman’s pants off and raped her. He then drove off with the victim before she unlocked the door and jumped from the vehicle, leaving her belongings behind.

Another driver passing by saw the victim and pulled over to assist her and call the Zanesville Police Department.

The victim was then taken to Genesis Hospital to undergo a sexual assault exam.

After obtaining video footage from the Muddy Boot Bar, ZPD was able to identify Unger, who employees at the bar described as driving a blue Jeep Liberty. The victim also told ZPD that she was assaulted in a blue Jeep-type vehicle.

Later that evening, a person attempted to use the victim’s credit card at a gas station pump to fuel a blue Jeep Liberty.

ZPD then went to question Unger, who claimed to have no knowledge of the incident. Unger’s DNA was collected at that time and both his DNA and the victim’s sexual assault kit were sent to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

BCI determined that the DNA from Unger was consistent with the DNA found in intimate areas of the victim from her sexual assault kit.

While Unger’s sentencing will be scheduled at a later date, both the State and Unger’s defense submitted a joint recommendation to the court that he serve 15 years in prison.