Man accused of rape pleads to lesser charge
By Staff Reports
Published in News on June 20, 2010 1:50 AM
A Mount Olive man accused of raping a 20-year-old at her Spence Avenue Apartment complex has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Shane Martin Berens, 24, of O'Berry Road, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery, reduced from a charge of misdemeanor sexual battery, court records show.
Berens turned himself in to authorities in July after his alleged victim, who was an acquaintance of his, reported the sexual assault to detectives.
According to state law, Berens' original charge of second-degree rape occurs if a person engages in vaginal intercourse with another person by force and against the will of the other person.
The charge he was convicted of, according to state law, reduces the language to "sexual contact with another person" by force and against the will of the other person.