A Columbus man was accused of rape a 10 year old girl Ohio who then had to travel to Indiana in search of an abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wad, in accordance with the legal proceedings to which the CNN obtained through affiliate WBNS.
Rumors of the case have attracted national and international attention, with some US political leaders referring to it in conversations about banning abortion.
Gerson Fuentes, 27, was arrested Tuesday, according to Columbus police and court documents. He was charged with rape of a minor under the age of 13, Franklin County Municipal Court points out. His first court appearance was on Wednesday (13).
Fuentes is being held on $2 million bond, the court reported. CNN reached out to his attorney for comment.
In testimony Wednesday during Fuentes’ indictment, Det. Jeffrey Huhn testified that the man admitted to authorities that he raped the young woman on at least two occasions.
Police were first alerted to the child’s pregnancy in late June through a referral from a local child services department, which was made by the 10-year-old’s mother.
The girl underwent a medical abortion in Indianapolis on June 30, the detective said. DNA from the Indianapolis clinic was being tested on samples from Fuentes and the child’s siblings, Huhn explained.
Fuentes’ next court appearance is July 22.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said: “My heart aches for the pain suffered by this child.”
“I am grateful for the Columbus Police Department’s diligent work in securing a confession and getting a rapist off the street,” Yost said.
“Justice must be done and [o Departamento de Investigação Criminal de Ohio] stands ready to support law enforcement in Ohio by putting these criminals behind bars.”
After Roe v. Wade was struck down, a law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect in Ohio.
Indianapolis obstetrician Cailin Bernard told CNN earlier this month who, after being contacted by a child abuse doctor in Ohio, helped a 10-year-old girl get an abortion in Indiana.
The young woman was six weeks and three days pregnant, Bernard told CNN .
The doctor said she saw an immediate influx of patients seeking termination of pregnancy in Indiana, particularly from neighboring states Kentucky and Ohio, which passed laws severely limiting abortion care after the Supreme Court ruling.
The Columbus Dispatch newspaper was the first to report on the case and the arrest. The Columbus Police Department did not immediately provide additional details about the arrest.
“Out of compassion for the victims, we will not comment on any rapes of minors,” Columbus Police Spokesperson Sergeant Joe Albert said. CNN .
The report also contacted the Ohio Attorney General, Franklin County Child Services and an Indiana-based abortion provider for additional details.
In the days leading up to Fuentes’ arrest, some conservative media and Republican officials expressed doubts about the case or even whether the girl existed.
Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, tweeted: “Another lie. Anyone surprised?”. The post has been deleted.
Source: CNN Brasil
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