Hunter
06/02/22
An Iowa City man has been arrested after an underage teen-aged girl reported that he had been sexually abusing her over the past several months.
According to the criminal complaint, the 15-year old reported multiple incidents between October 1st 2021 and April 3rd of this year involving 35-year-old Raphael Neely of Bartelt Road, who lives with the victim and dates her mother.
A review of the girl’s phone found text messages where she reports to others that Neely forced her to have sex with him, and feels on her in a, quote, “nasty way.” During a forensic interview with the victim, she stated that, quote, “things with me involved” have happened with Neely. She told authorities she doesn’t feel safe to stay at home because she alleged Neely “touches kids.” The girl also added that she was told by someone not to talk about the incidents of sexual abuse.
The girl says that late on April 2nd she was sleeping at Neely’s residence when he allegedly laid down next to her. She woke up to Neely engaged in a sex act with her without consent. She left the room and moved to a different room to sleep. Neely reportedly entered the other room a short time later and attempted to perform a sex act on her again.
Neely was interviewed by authorities, and admitted being under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the incident, but said that he was pretty sure he didn’t touch anybody.
A warrant was requested for Neely’s arrest on May 26th; he was taken into custody Wednesday night and charged with two counts of 3rd degree Sexual Abuse involving a child victim. If convicted, Neely faces a prison sentence of up to twenty years.
