‘I know I’m going to jail’: Mercer County man charged with rape

‘I know I’m going to jail’: Mercer County man accused of raping 11-year-old girl over e-cigarettes

WARNING: This story contains details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.

A Mercer County man is facing charges for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl in exchange for giving her money and the purchase of e-cigarettes.

According to a criminal complaint, 50-year-old Charles Byrne of Sandy Lake raped the 11-year-old victim and supplied her with rape products in return.

According to police, this all came to light on June 29, when the alleged victim’s parents caught her with the vape products. When asked where she got them, she told her parents she got them from Byrne, who raped her and gave her the products in return.

Police then spoke with the alleged victim, who told officers this alleged behavior had been occurring in Byrne’s shed and home for about a year. The alleged victim said this happened two to four times a week, the last time just two days before speaking to police.

The alleged victim told police that the first time she asked Bryne what he was planning, he told her to “shut up,” and another time he used a sex object on her.

The alleged victim further said that Byrne would either pay her money or buy her e-cigarette products in exchange for sex and would tell her not to tell anyone about his actions.

Police eventually managed to contact Byrne and informed him that he was not allowed to have any contact with the victim or her family and that an investigator would be in touch with him soon.

When Byrne was told this, police said he replied, “I know I’m going to jail.” When police asked him why he thought that, he said he knew he was being accused of rape.

According to police, Byrne was told this. He denied raping her, but said they “made out,” and when asked what that meant, he replied he had “sexual intercourse” with the alleged victim, according to police.

According to police, Byrne also admitted that he knew the alleged victim was 11 years old. He said the last time they had sex was two days ago on his porch. He also admitted to doing it in the cabin and in the bedroom.

According to police, Byrne told officers that the alleged victim “attacked him.”

Byrne faces several charges, including five counts of rape of a child, one count of sexual assault, one count of sexual battery, one count of corruption of minors and one count of selling tobacco.

He appeared in court on June 29 and for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, July 10. He is due back in court on September 10 to formally face charges.