Teen charged with rape plus witness tampering

HAVRE — A 17-year-old Havre boy is charged with raping a girl and he and his father are charged with witness tampering for allegedly trying to prevent her from going to police.

The boy and his father pleaded not guilty Monday during hearings before a District Court judge in Havre. The Associated Press is not identifying the father to avoid identifying the teen, who is a juvenile.

The girl said she was raped at the boy’s residence on April 15. She said he threatened to kill her dog and grabbed her arm at school and told her not to report it.

Prosecutors say the boy’s father texted the girl asking her not to tell her dad or police.

The boy’s attorney says he looks forward to clearing his client’s name. The father’s attorney was out of the office.