Rape hearing postponed

SPIRIT LAKE — A hearing in the case of a man accused of raping a missing girl has been postponed again.

Michael R. Deherrera, 53, of Spirit Lake, is charged with rape, a felony.

He is also charged with providing shelter to a runaway child, a misdemeanor.

Spirit Lake police responded to Deherrera’s residence on July 13, after they received a tip that a missing teen girl was living there.

The 17-year-old was reported missing in Spokane about three months prior.

She contacted her family, according to court documents, and said she had been living with Deherrera, who she believed was taking advantage of her.

The girl told police she met Deherrera online. The two reportedly lived together in a hotel room for several weeks before moving to his RV in Spirit Lake.

She said Deherrera knew she was a minor who had been reported missing.

Deherrera had sex with the girl on multiple occasions, she said.

When questioned by police, Deherrera allegedly said he did not have a sexual relationship with the girl and she only helped him with his food delivery shop.

He said they lived in separate areas of his RV. He also denied knowledge of the girl being reported missing, police said.

Police arrested Deherrera at the scene.

A preliminary hearing in the case was postponed in early August and again this week.

Prosecutors requested that a hearing set for Friday be rescheduled, on the grounds that they needed more time to review evidence.

At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors must show that there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed and that the defendant committed the crime.

Deherrera reportedly waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing.

The hearing has been rescheduled for early September.

Deherrera remains in jail on $100,000 bail.