Crime & Safety
Germantown Man Met Sexual Assault Victim Via Snapchat, Instagram: Police
A Germantown man is charged with taking a 13-year-old girl to a hotel for sex, and police worry there are other victims in the case.
GERMANTOWN, MD — A Germantown man is in jail on a rape charge for allegedly taking a 13-year-old girl to a hotel for sex, and Montgomery County Police worry there are other victims in the case. Detectives on Thursday arrested and charged Charles Ebenezer Berry Jr., 21, of the 21200 block of Bunyan Circle in Germantown, for the rape of a 13-year-old girl from Washington County.
Authorities say the victim’s family reported her missing June 23 to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The next day, June 24, the victim contacted her family and said that she was at the Extended Stay America Hotel, 20141 Century Boulevard in Germantown. Family members drove to the hotel and returned home with the victim. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the victim’s family, and determined that the girl was at a hotel with Berry.
Police who interviewed the teen say the girl began chatting with Berry in 2016 on Instagram and Snapchat. The pair had met in person on a previous occasion and Berry reportedly knew the girl's age, police say.
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The victim told investigators that on June 23 Berry picked her up at her home in Washington County and drove her to the hotel in Germantown, where they engaged in sexual acts.
On July 21, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Berry charging him with one count of second-degree rape. Authorities say the charge is applicable because the victim was under the age of 14 and the suspect was four or more years older when they had sex.
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Detectives arrested Berry near his home on the strength of the Montgomery County arrest warrant. He is being held without bond.
Investigators believe that Berry may have corresponded with other girls via various social media apps and that there may be additional victims. Anyone who believes that their child may have chatted with or met with Berry is asked to contact the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.
Photo of Charles Ebenezer Berry Jr., courtesy of Montgomery County Police
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