“Columbus Dispatch: A man was arrested in the rape of a 10-year-old who traveled to Indiana for an abortion”, CNN
By Chuck Johnston, July 13, 2022
(CNN) A Columbus man has been charged with raping a 10-year-old Ohio girl who then had to travel to Indiana seeking an abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to the Columbus Dispatch newspaper.
Rumors of the case garnered national and international attention, with some US political leadersreferencing it in conversations regarding abortion bans.
Gerson Fuentes, 27, was arrested on Tuesday, according to Columbus police and court documents. He has been charged with felony rape of a minor under the age of 13 years old, according to the Franklin County Municipal Court. His first appearance in court was Wednesday, according to the court.
CNN has reached out to Fuentes’ attorney for comment.
Police were first alerted to the child’s pregnancy through a referral by a local children services department that was made by the 10-year-old’s mother in late June, according to the Columbus Dispatch, which cited a detective’s testimony at Fuentes’ arraignment Wednesday.
The 10-year-old girl underwent a medical abortion in Indianapolis on June 30, the detective testified, according to the newspaper. The detective further testified that DNA from the Indianapolis clinic was being tested against samples from Fuentes and the child’s siblings, the newspaper reported.
Fuentes is being held on $2 million bond, according to the court. His next appearance is July 22, court documents show.
Gershon Fuentes, 27, was arrested on Tuesday, according to Columbus police and court documents.
In a Wednesday statement, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said, “My heart aches for the pain suffered by this young child.”
“I am grateful for the diligent work of the Columbus Police Department in securing a confession and getting a rapist off the street,” Yost said. “Justice must be served and (the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) stands ready to support law enforcement across Ohio putting these criminals behind bars.”
After Roe v. Wade was overturned, an Ohio law banning abortions as early as six weeks into a pregnancy went into effect.
Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis-based obstetrician-gynecologist, previously told CNN that after being contacted by a child abuse doctor in neighboring Ohio, she recently helped a 10-year-old girl have an abortion in Indiana. The young girl was six weeks and three days into the pregnancy, Bernard told CNN.
The doctor said she saw an immediate influx of patients seeking abortions in Indiana, particularly from bordering states Kentucky and Ohio, which passed laws severely limiting abortion care following the Supreme Court decision.
Where state abortion bans stand amid legal challenges
The Columbus Police Department would not immediately provide additional details on the arrest.
“Out of compassion for victims we will not comment on any rapes of juveniles,” Columbus police spokesperson Sgt. Joe Albert told CNN.
CNN has reached out to the Ohio Attorney General, Franklin County Child Services and an Indiana-based abortion provider for additional details.