News Releases

Germantown Man Charged with Sexual Assault of Juvenile; Possibility of Additional Victims a Concern

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 28, 2017

Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) have arrested and charged Charles Ebenezer Berry Jr., age 21, of the 21200 block of Bunyan Circle in Germantown, for the rape of a 13-year-old female.

On June 23, the victim’s family reported her as a missing juvenile to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland.  The next day, June 24, the victim contacted her family and said that she was at the Extended Stay America Hotel located at 20141 Century Boulevard in Germantown.  Family members drove to the hotel and returned with the victim to Washington County.  On June 24, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was informed of this information by the victim’s family, and determined that the victim was at a hotel with a man who hotel records indicated was Berry Jr.

SVID investigators interviewed the victim and learned that in 2016, when the victim was 12-years-old, Berry Jr. and the victim began corresponding with each other on the social media applications “Instagram” and “Snapchat”.  The victim stated to investigators that she and Berry Jr. had met in person on a previous occasion and that he knew she was 13-years-old.   The victim further stated that on the evening of June 23, Berry Jr. picked her up at her residence in Washington County and drove her to the Extended Stay America Hotel in Germantown where they engaged in sexual acts.

On July 21, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Berry Jr. charging him with one count of second-degree rape (this second-degree rape charge is applicable because the victim was under the age of 14 and the suspect was four or more years older).

On July 27, detectives arrested Berry Jr. near his home on the strength of the Montgomery County arrest warrant.  Berry Jr. is being held without bond.

Investigators believe that Berry Jr. may have corresponded with other juvenile females via various social media applications and that there may be additional victims.   Anyone who believes that their child may have corresponded with and/or met with Berry Jr. is asked to contact the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400.

*The Montgomery County Police Department is an affiliate member of the Maryland State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force*

RLG

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Release ID: 17-229
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: sexual-offense