A 20-year-old Auburn woman has been charged with felony rape following an investigation by the Auburn Police Department.
According to police, the investigation began on July 29 after a 14-year-old disclosed a sexual encounter with Starr Merritt at the city’s downtown parking garage. Investigators say Merritt had been spending time with the teen over the course of two days, which led the victim’s mother to contact authorities.
On Saturday, Merritt went to the Auburn Police Department to file a complaint against the teen’s mother. During that visit, she was confronted by officers about the allegations and subsequently arrested.
Merritt was charged with one count of rape, a Class D felony. She was processed and taken to the Cayuga County Jail, where she remains held pending arraignment.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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