Man pleads innocent in rape of 5-year-old

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Guy McFarland, 35, of Leavittsburg, has pleaded innocent to raping an unrelated 5-year-old girl in the home where he was living.

The plea was offered for McFarland Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court, where he was arraigned on the first-degree felony charge. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

McFarland is being held in the Trumbull County jail without eligibility to make bond.

Lt. Don Bishop of the Warren Township Police Department, said McFarland was watching the girl for her father on Monday afternoon.

The father left the home to work on another house but returned a short time later after forgetting something, Bishop said. When he came home, he saw McFarland sexually assaulting the girl, Bishop said.

McFarland returns to court at 10:15 a.m. March 19 for a preliminary hearing before Judge Terry Ivanchak.