A defendant facing two first degree rape charges has made his initial appearance and a pre-preliminary hearing has been set.
Two felony charges of first degree rape with a victim under 14 were filed in Lincoln County District Court Jan. 24 against Dakota Shane Murch, 44. A $75,000 bench warrant for his arrest was issued the same day the charges were filed.
Court records show the bench warrant was returned and filed Feb. 1. Murch made his initial appearance on Feb. 2 before Special Judge Emily Mueller.
She ordered Murch to return with an attorney at 1:30 p.m. on April 13 for his pre-preliminary hearing.
Both charges of first degree rape by instrumentation allegedly occurred between March 14, 2012 and March 13, 2013. The victim, now 17, was seven years old at the time the reported crimes occurred.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Detective George Kelly Coleman investigated the case beginning back in June of 2022, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Vanessa Parsons with the One Safe Place Family Justice Center was also involved in the investigation.