Man Charged For Attempted Rape Of Sister's Foster Child

CROWN POINT, IN — A man was charged Wednesday in Lake Criminal Court on two counts of attempted rape and criminal confinement for attempting to rape his sister's 13-year-old foster child in Merrillville during July 2016. The Times reported the case against 27-year-old Jacorri Howard was reopened by detectives in March at the request of the victim's family, less than two years after the girl claimed he tried to sexually assault her on July 5, 2016 at Brickshire Apartment Complex, 1343 W. 90th Place.

The news source said according to records, the girl reported the incident at the hospital the same day, but then ran away from her foster home, so the investigation was put on hold by Merrillville police.

The girl initially told police Howard put his hand down her shorts and made advances for sex in a stairwell, but then told police on March 29 he actually pinned her down and tried raping her.

The Times reported that records say the girl first denied anything was wrong in fear of being sent to a group home, but she eventually told her foster mother, who took her to the hospital for a sexual assault exam after seeing blood on the girl's shorts.

Records say Howard is being held on a $30,000 bond after admitting his advances to detectives Monday, though claiming she initiated the encounter.

Image via Shutterstock