Ohio man charged with raping 10-year-old who had to cross state border for an abortion

Franklin County, Ohio - The man accused of raping a 10-year-old girl who had to travel from her home state of Ohio to Indiana for an abortion has been charged.

Gerson Fuentes (l.), who is accused of raping a 10-year-old, poses for a booking photograph at the Franklin County Corrections Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Gerson Fuentes (l.), who is accused of raping a 10-year-old, poses for a booking photograph at the Franklin County Corrections Center in Columbus, Ohio.  © Collage: REUTERS

Gerson Fuentes (27) was arrested Tuesday and charged on Wednesday. Police said during the hearing that Fuentes had confessed to raping the 10-year-old at least two times, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

The girl was forced to travel out of state to Indiana to receive abortion care because she was six weeks and three days pregnant. Ohio's six-week ban does not include exceptions for rape or incest.

Her case has been used to illustrate the dangers of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Ohio's law went into effect just hours after the announcement.

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Even President Joe Biden has pointed to the case as a reason that abortion access must remain available. "Just imagine being that little girl – 10 years old," he said at the White House on Friday.

While abortion providers can still offer care in Indiana, that could soon change. State lawmakers are expected to enact more restrictions on abortion during an Indiana General Assembly special session on July 25.

During a Fox News appearance on Wednesday, Indiana's Republican attorney general Todd Rokita said his office is investigating the doctor who performed the abortion and even considering punishing him.

Meanwhile, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who spent the week casting doubts on the entire story – saying there was "not a damn scintilla of evidence" for it – released a terse statement after the arrest of Fuentes. "We rejoice anytime a child rapist is taken off the streets," was the one-sentence response.

Fuentes is currently being held on $2 million bond. His next hearing is set for July 22.

Cover photo: Collage: REUTERS

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