LIMA — A rookie Lima Police Department officer fired after he was accused of raping a 16-year-old girl is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 13.
Justin Bentz, 27, also was assigned a Sept. 23 pretrial during a hearing in his case Tuesday. Bentz is charged with rape, kidnapping, two counts of sexual battery and offenses involving underage people. He faces up to 32 years in prison.
He was arrested after an allegation he raped the girl June 11 at a house in the 6000 block of Agerter Road where he lived with a couple. Bentz was hired Sept. 8. He is out of jail on bail.
