A Salisbury man was charged with statutory rape Wednesday following an investigation by the Salisbury Police Department into a March 4 incident.
Melvin Maurice Cruse, 26, of 221 Dan St., is in the Rowan County jail under a $50,000 secured bond.
Police said the victim, a 15-year-old female, reported that she and her friends were at Cruse’s house March 4, visiting, and at some point Cruse began kissing her. The report said she asked him to stop, but he forced himself on her.
Cruse made his first appearance in court this morning.