ZIMMERMAN

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FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

Portsmouth Municipal Court Judge Steve Mowery has set a court date for accused rapist Gene R. Zimmerman.

Zimmerman, 37, of Haverhill was arraigned Monday morning in Portsmouth Municipal Court in the rape of a 15-year-old girl. A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday (June 7) at 10 a.m. in Mowery’s courtroom. Zimmerman is charged with one count of rape, a first-degree felony. Bond was set at $100,000.

The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office was called to Southern Ohio Medical Center on Tuesday, May 29, where the girl, whose identity was not released, reported being sexually assaulted.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said detectives told him the girl met Zimmerman in an Internet chat room, where he led her to believe he would take her to a friend’s house in Ashland, Ky. Deputies said the alleged victim only knew Zimmerman by his screen name, Bubbles. The victim reported she was taken to an apartment in Haverhill, where she was sexually assaulted.

The girl was treated at SOMC and then sent to Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe.

Donini said anyone with information concerning the case can call Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091. He said all calls will remain anonymous.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com.