Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
William Mata

Ohio man charged with rape of girl who was forced to travel for abortion

Gerson Fuentes is said to have confessed to police that he raped the girl at least twice

(Picture: via REUTERS)

An Ohio man has been charged with raping a 10-year-old girl who had to travel to a neighboring state for an abortion.

The case was highlighted by Joe Biden in criticising a US supreme court decision overturning Roe v Wade and eliminating a nationwide right to abortion.

The alleged victim was forced to travel from Ohio - where the overturn of Roe v Wade has made the procedure illegal - to neighbouring state Indiana.

Gerson Fuentes, 27, was arrested on Tuesday and was subject of a preliminary hearing on Wednesday when a police investigator testified that Fuentes had admitted to raping the girl at least twice. He added that the victim underwent an abortion on June 30.

Ohio’s Republican-led state laws now ban abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy. The girl was three days past the six-week limit, which does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

“Just imagine being that little girl – 10 years old,” Mr Biden said on Friday in a White House press conference.

Fuentes is set to appear at another preliminary hearing on July 22.

The Republican Ohio attorney general Dave Yost said in a statement: “My heart aches for the pain suffered by this young child. I am grateful for the diligent work of the Columbus police department.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.