Lawrence man, 22, charged with five counts of rape

A 22-year-old Lawrence man was charged Friday with five counts of rape and one count of sodomy of a child under the age of 14 years old.

The man is accused of having sex with and sodomizing the child daily from Aug. 5 through Aug. 9, according to Lawrence police.

The man was taken into custody about 12:30 p.m. Thursday following a police interview. Lawrence Police Department spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said the victim and suspect were known to each other and engaged in a “few-week-long” relationship.

During that time, the two allegedly had unlawful sexual contact on several occasions in a residence in southeast Lawrence, McKinley said.

Douglas County District Court Judge James T. George set the man’s bond at $250,000, and he is not allowed to have contact with the victim or any witnesses. If convicted, the suspect could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for each charge, depending on his criminal history. He will next return to court Aug. 20.