Alva Review-Courier -

An Alva man has been charged with rape of an underage girl in Woods County. The alleged rape took place in June 2017 when the man was 19 and the girl was 12.

Jacoby William Merrill, 20, of Alva has been charged with rape – first degree, a felony carrying a penalty of not less than five years. He has also been charged with felony lewd molestation with a penalty of imprisonment for up to three to 20 years. The charges were filed on Feb. 15.

Court records show the investigation began on Feb. 9 when District Attorney's Investigator Steve Tanio was contacted by a counselor about a child sexual abus...