A Canton man was arrested Saturday for the rape of a juvenile in Albany and is being held on $500,000 bail.
Richard Leroy Merryman, 20, was arrested by Albany Police Department and arraigned in Athens County Municipal Court yesterday for the rape of a five-year-old boy. He is currently housed at Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
Merryman allegedly enticed the boy into a stall in the restroom of the Albany Community Center, secured the stall door, pulled the child’s pants down and proceeded to touch the child’s buttocks and performed oral sex on the child, according to court documents.
The Athens Police Department, Athens County Sheriff’s Office and Athens County Prosecutor’s Office are continuing the investigation that involves multiple victims, said Sheriff Pat Kelly.
“Another confirmed victim is a four-year-old and we are looking into other victims as well,” Kelly said.
Assistant County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said Merryman has two previous battery charges from Florida and is a non-registered sex offender.
Rape is a first-degree felony. First-degree felonies normally carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and fine of $20,000 for each charge, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Rapes that are classified with sexually violent predator specification, which applies for the rape of victims under ten years of age, carry a sentence of life without parole, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
“(Merryman’s) potential penalty is life without parole and his bail is at $500,000,” Blackburn said.
Merryman is scheduled to reappear in court for a preliminary hearing April 12 at 2 p.m.
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