Columbus man raped underage girl about 5 times, police say

A man was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl about five times in a vacant home near Talbotton Road, according to testimony Tuesday in Columbus Recorder’s Court.

Shay Dawson, 25, pleaded not guilty to a rape charge related to the July incident. He was ordered held without bond in the Muscogee County Jail.

Judge Julius Hunter bound the case over to Superior Court.

Columbus Police Cpl. Tom Shelton said Dawson raped and sodomized a 16-year-old girl about five times in vacant home near Talbotton Road on July 25. Another teenage girl witnessed the incident, authorities said.

Dawson was wanted on warrants when he allegedly pulled his pants down and started touching himself around 10:15 a.m. Thursday in the Novedades Tury store at 2001 South Lumpkin Road. He was taken into custody in that area following a short foot chase.

Shelton said authorities are working to file additional charges against Dawson after they receive lab results from the rape kit.

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Columbus man raped underage girl about 5 times, police say."