Rineyville man charged with forcible rape

A Rineyville man is charged with first-degree rape after police say he forced a minor to engage in sexual intercourse Sunday.

DIEHLMAN

Loren Diehlman, 43, was arrested Wednesday evening at Elizabethtown Police Department following an interview with police, said Detective Rex Allaman with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.

Allaman said Diehlman is a friend of the girl’s family.

On Sunday evening, Diehlman took the girl, who is younger than 18, to a shed behind his mother’s house, Allaman said. According to the detective, Diehlman lives in the shed.

According to the arrest warrant, Diehlman “physically restrained” the teen and “forcibly committed sexual intercourse on her.”

Allaman said the teen was emotionally “torn up” about the incident and did not immediately report it because she cared for her parents and did not want to hurt her father, who was friends with Diehlman.

Reporting the incident took courage, the detective said, and the family “did the right thing” by going to law enforcement.

“She’s definitely got some mental anguish over this,” Allaman said.

After conducting a forensic interview with the girl, Allaman said he was compelled to believe her and did not detect any signs of deception.

Allaman said Diehlman refused to submit a DNA sample during his police interview, but the detective obtained a search warrant Thursday and executed it.

A buccal swab and underwear from the girl will be sent to the lab for DNA testing, he said.

Diehlman is lodged at the Hardin County Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond.

He was arraigned via video feed Thursday in Hardin District Court and is scheduled to appear Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Allaman said he is pursuing a Class A felony charge because of the allegations of physical restraint.

A Class A felony is punishable by 20 to 50 years or life imprisonment if found guilty.

Sarah Bennettcan be reached at (270) 505-1750 or sbennett@thenewsenterprise.com.