Authorities charged an Edgecombe County man with statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl earlier this month.
The local sheriff's office was contacted on Oct. 10 by Vidant Edgecombe Hospital in reference to a teenager who was in the emergency room. The teenager, who was with her mother, told hospital staff that she was raped, according to the sheriff's office.
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The alleged incident occurred on Oct. 1 at the teen's home. The girl identified the suspect as 24-year-old Jonathan Thomas Reese, of Pinetops.
Authorities said Reese and the teenager engaged in consensual sexual intercourse and communicated heavily for more than a week.
Reese was charged with statutory rape and was jailed under a $5,000 secured bond.