Demarcus Antwon Swanigan, 20, of 1905 14th Ave. N. in Columbus, was arrested Monday after being accused of statutory rape.
According to Columbus police, the incident occurred Wednesday around 8 p.m. behind the Charles Brown Gymnasium, located at on Ninth Street South. Police said Swanigan and a 14-year-old girl were caught by the girl’s mother, and Swanigan fled the scene.
“She started looking for her daughter and saw them, and the guy ran off,” Interim Columbus Police Chief Selvain McQueen said.
The victim received medical treatment at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, police said.
Swanigan turned himself in Monday at around 11:15 a.m. and was released the same day on a $3,500 bond.
According to police, the maximum penalty for statutory rape when the defendant is 18-21 years old and the victim is 14-16 years old is up to five years in the state penitentiary and a $5,000 fine.
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