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February 22, 2013

Pair charged with lewd molestation

By JOSH NEWTON Staff Writer

TAHLEQUAH — A Tahlequah man and woman have been charged with felony lewd molestation after they allegedly tried to have a sexual encounter with a 13-year-old girl last month.

Charles Dick, 23, and his girlfriend, Jessica D. Romain, 20, each face felony charges of lewd or indecent proposals to a child under 16 and lewd or indecent acts to a child. They are also charged with misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age.

Tahlequah Police Detective Thomas Donnell said a school resource officer contacted him about the issue earlier this year. Donnell set up an interview with the alleged victim and her parents, and the girl explained to Donnell what happened.

Court documents allege Dick and Romain asked the victim to have sex with them, and both touched the girl inappropriately while she was at their home.

Donnell said he spoke to Dick and Romain about the allegations, and Dick confirmed the victim’s claims, while Romain wouldn’t talk about the allegations.

Donnell said the alleged victim previously lived near Romain, and the two occasionally spent time together.

Dick and Romain were both arrested in late January. Romain posted $25,000 bond several days after her arrest and was released, while Dick remains jailed with a $25,000 bond set.

If convicted, they could face three to 20 years in prison for each of the lewd molestation charges, and up to five years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

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