Soldier faces 11 counts of rape
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 26, 2008
WINDSOR – A soldier arrested in a statutory rape case waived his right to a probable cause hearing here last Thursday (March 20).
Rosha Raffeal Cherry, 20, originally of Windsor, was arrested March 4 after Detective Sergeant Ed Pittman of the Bertie County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) had him extradited from the Army base where he was stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia.
Cherry was charged with 11 counts of statutory rape/sex offense with the defendant being at least six years older than the victim. Each count is a class B1 felony with a sentence range of 192-480 months per charge.
Additionally, he was charged with three counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.
According to Pittman, the victim’s mother originally alerted the BCSO to the alleged affair on February 9.
The 13-year-old victim, who is now reportedly pregnant as a result of the relationship, is also a Windsor resident.
Cherry was placed under a $300,000 bond and remains confined in the Bertie Martin Regional Jail. He has a court-appointed attorney.
If convicted, he could potentially face life in prison.
Additional non-civilian charges under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) may also be in Cherry’s future.
His next court date is scheduled for April 14.