An Ohio man was charged with raping 10-year-old girl. The girl had to travel from Ohio to Indiana for an abortion due to Roe V. Wade’s reversal by the Supreme Court.
Her case drew international attention in the aftermath of the high court’s ruling — with some Republicans suggesting the account was fabricated and President Joe Biden publicly expressing sympathy for the child.
Gerson Fuentes (27), of Columbus was taken into custody Tuesday after police stated that he had admitted to raping the child at most twice. Wednesday’s charges of rape led to Gerson Fuentes being placed on $2 million bail.
Columbus police stated that they were notified by Franklin County Children Services about the child’s pregnancies. Det. Jeffrey Huhn gave evidence Wednesday during Fuentes’ bail hearing.
The detective also stated that DNA testing was being done on tissue from Fuentes and samples from the child’s aborted foetus.
The Indianapolis Star first reported this month that a 10-year-old rape victim had traveled from Ohio to Indiana for abortion services after the medical procedure was severely restricted in her home state.
The story went viral immediately. The story of the child became a rallying cry to support abortion rights.
“Imagine being that little girl,”President Joe Biden spoke Friday, as he condemned the Supreme Court decision to eliminate abortion from constitutionally protected rights. “I’m serious. Just imagine being that little girl,”The president stated.
Recent days have seen Republicans question the validity of this case.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told Fox News this week that his office hadn’t heard “a whisper”Concerning a child being raped, and then impregnated. “We have regular contact with prosecutors and local police and sheriffs — not a whisper anywhere,”Yost spoke.
“I know the cops and prosecutors in this state,”He concluded. “There’s not one of them that wouldn’t be turning over every rock, looking for this guy and they would have charged him. They wouldn’t leave him loose on the streets. I’m not saying it could not have happened. What I’m saying to you is there is not a damn scintilla of evidence.”
Yost made a one sentence statement following Wednesday’s court hearing. “We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken off the streets,”He stated.
Yost asked about the account earlier in the week. Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan responded with a tweet “Another lie. Anyone surprised?”This tweet appears to have been deleted following the arrest of the suspect.
On Wednesday, the congressman tweeted the following: “should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Clark Torbett, an attorney with the Franklin County Public Defender’s office, said in court that Fuentes had lived in Columbus for the past seven years and had a steady job at a restaurant. He objected to the prosecution’s request that no bail be granted.
Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Meyer stated that there were some questions about Fuentes’ real name and indicated that it was believed that the suspect wasn’t a legal resident of the United States.
Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Ebner set bail at $2 million, saying Fuentes could pose a flight risk and that a high bond was necessary to protect the child.
Prosecutor said that the girl was 10 years old and likely had been pregnant at age 9. Authorities stated that she was six weeks pregnant when she had her abortion.
Fuentes could spend life in prison if convicted.