Parents of Alleged Rape Victim Charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Smithville Police have charged the parents of a rape victim with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says the parents knew their daughter had been intimate with the man, prior to the alleged sexual assault.” During the course of the initial investigation it was found that the parents were aware that their 15 year old daughter had been carrying on an intimate relationship since September 2006 with 27 year old Rafael Murillo, an illegal alien. Admissions by the parents, suspect and the victim established that the parents would allow the suspect to sleep in the same room as their daughter during overnight stays at the family residence. Also the parents would drive their daughter over to the suspect’s house late at night with her returning back home at 2:00 to 3:00 am in the morning.”
The parent’s identity and address will not be mentioned to safeguard the juvenile’s confidentiality.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, police arrested a 25 year old woman on drug charges Sunday, after investigating a complaint of a suspicious vehicle.
Mechal Harding of 920 South Main Street, Smithville is charged with possession of a schedule VI controlled substance for resale.
Chief Stufano says “On February 18th at approximately 2:30 p.m. Smithville Police Officers responded to the Mapco Express located at Highway 70 & Highway 56 on reported suspicious activity involving an older model pickup truck. Upon arrival Officer’s made contact with Harding A computer check noted that Harding was wanted for a Failure to Appear out of North Carolina and that she also was driving on a Suspended Driver’s License. As Officer’s continued their investigation Harding was also in possession of a Scheduled VI Drug for resale. Harding was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $26,000 bond. Her vehicle, a 1983 Ford truck, was also seized under the state’s Drug Forfeiture Act.