COLFAX, WA – A 19-year-old Palouse man has been charged with child rape for allegedly sexually assaulting a young boy.

Jaxon Raup has been charged with 1st degree child rape in Whitman County Superior Court.  Raup pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Friday in Colfax.

According to court documents the case began in December when the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office received a report from Child Protective Services.  The boy had told a counselor about the sexual assault allegations.  The victim told investigators that he was raped at Raup’s home and that he immediately ran from the residence to find a police officer.  Documents show that Raup reportedly tracked the boy down in his pickup and took him back to the house.  The sheriff’s office determined that the alleged child rape occurred during the early summer of 2023.  Raup denied the allegations when he was interviewed by the sheriff’s office.

Raup has not been arrested and is on pretrial release and has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim.  He is currently scheduled to stand trial in July.