Man arrested for alleged sexual abuse of teen and rape of local woman
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IDAHO FALLS — A 30-year-old Idaho Falls man has been charged with two felonies for allegedly raping a 21-year-old woman, who is disabled, and sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.
The charges — lewd conduct with a child younger than 16 and forcible rape — were filed against Charles Ray Jones Jr. in Bonneville County last week.
Court records show the 21-year-old victim is developmentally disabled and functions at the level of an 8-year-old child. The alleged abuse occurred in October, however, Jones is said to have threatened the 21-year-old victim and her mother, and the pair did not report the crime until April.
The 21-year-old victim talked about the rape with a counselor who then reported it to authorities, according to police reports.
The Idaho Falls Police Department investigated and discovered Jones allegedly forced the woman into a bathroom, pushed her to the ground and raped her. The alleged rape happened in an Idaho Falls hotel where the woman and her mother were staying.
Her mother was not in the room at the time, but learned about it the next day. Together they confronted Jones. The mother told police Jones threatened to make their lives “a living hell” if they reported the incident.
When investigators spoke with Jones about the rape allegations, he denied forcibly raping the woman. Investigators said Jones provided seven versions of what happened. At one point, Jones told investigators the developmentally disabled adult was flirting with him and that she was sexually aggressive toward him and the victim “thought he was cute.”
Court documents show Jones later admitted to investigators that he did have forcible sex with the 21-year-old in the bathroom, and that he knew she was disabled. Jones maintained he did not threaten the woman or her mother.
On the lewd conduct charge, Jones is said to have had sex with 13-year-old girl. Jones admitted to investigators he had sexual intercourse with a teen. He also told police the victim had wanted the sexual interaction, according to court documents.
Jones was arraigned Monday on both charges and remains in the Bonneville County Jail on a $50,000 bond. If convicted of either crime, Jones faces up to life in prison.