BLOOMINGTON - An 18-year-old man from Normal charged with sexually assaulting a woman in June was not too intoxicated to understand his right to have an attorney present during questioning by police, a judge ruled Thursday.

Taurean D. Chambers, of the 600 block of Orlando Avenue, testified Thursday that he does not recall portions of his interview with police, including the explanation of his right to an attorney. Chambers, who was 17 at the time of his arrest June 4, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion, residential burglary, aggravated battery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to prosecutors, Chambers struck a woman in the head outside her mobile home in the 700 block of North Raab Road after he asked her if she had drugs. The woman told police Chambers followed her inside, raped her, took her cell phone and money and fled.

Chambers admitted in his testimony on a motion to suppress his statements to police that he had smoked about 3 grams of marijuana and drank more than a pint of alcohol before the incident. He said he routinely drinks alcohol and smokes marijuana.

"I didn't really know what was going on," Chambers said of the police interview.

Normal Police Detective Ryan Ritter described Chambers' demeanor during the early morning interview.

"He was quiet. He seemed unconcerned. He appeared sleepy. The only thing I can say is he was sluggish," said Ritter.

In making his ruling, Kevin Fitzgerald said he watched a videotape of the police interview and did not detect slurred speech by the defendant. "He seemed to understand the questions he was being asked," said the judge.

If convicted, Chambers faces six to 30 years in prison.

Chambers, who remains jailed in lieu of posting $10,000, is scheduled to return to court April 4.