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Utah man suspected of raping 12-year-old girl he met online

The suspect allegedly forced his way into the victim’s home.

A Utah man has been charged with two counts of child rape after police said he met a 12-year-old girl online, forced his way into her home twice, and assaulted her each time.

Gule S. Cheway, 21, was charged in 3rd District Court on Wednesday, court records show.

According to charging documents, the girl told police that two years ago, when she was 12, Cheway, who was 19 at the time, sent her messages and began to chat with her on Facebook.

In the chats, she told him her age, documents state. When Cheway started calling her “babe,” she told him to stop and blocked him. He then followed her on Instagram and said he wanted her to be his girlfriend, so she blocked him again, the records state.

The girl went on to tell police that Cheway came to her home three times in January 2020. The first time, she was home alone; she answered the door and told him to go away. He forced his way inside, where he attacked her, the documents state.

About three days later, Cheway returned. The girl was home with a younger sibling, who answered the door; the girl said she fought with Cheway and instructed her sibling to go into another room and lock the door. Cheway forced his way inside and attacked the girl again, the documents state.

The girl told police Cheway came to her home a third time, but she and her sibling were able to “push him out of the house.” She said Cheway gave her a cell phone to “keep her quiet,” and later told her that he was going to send people to kill her.

When questioned by police, Cheway said he had consensual sex with the girl. In Utah, the age of consent is 18.

Cheway was booked into the Salt Lake County jail, where he is being held without bail.