‘Quite disturbing’: Newark residents react to news that woman has been charged with child rape

NEWARK, NY – Neighbors’ reactions Tuesday night to a Wayne County woman charged with raping a minor.

“This is crazy,” said Nicholas Kouwe. And “pretty disturbing,” added Cassie Incarnato.

They both live in the village of Newark and cannot believe what 29-year-old Christina Austin is accused of.

“This is crazy. I’ve never heard of this,” Kouwe said.

He has two daughters of his own and said the news was very disturbing to him.

“Wow! It’s a little scary and a little disheartening to hear that,” Kouwe said.

Austin is charged with one count of rape of a child under the age of 15 and one count of rape of a child under the age of 17. Investigators tell us the charge involves one victim. Police say the rape occurred between February and March 2023 in the Village of Newark.

Incarnato says she is outraged to hear that this happened in her own backyard.

“Worried – I have children myself, so this worries me a lot. It would hurt me for my child if he came to me and said something like that,” she said.

Austin is charged with second and third degree rape and was released on bail.

“I’m shocked. I’m shocked. About Newark. I’ve never heard this before. I’ve never heard this before and I’ve been here for a year,” Incarnato said.

Austin’s next court date is June 18.

News10NBC has reached out to the Newark Police Department and Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and requested a booking photo of Austin, but has not yet received one.