Sanford man charged with sexual assault of teenage girl

SANFORD, Fla. — A Sanford man was charged with raping a 17-year-old girl nearly a year after the alleged victim came forward because of delays in the return of the rape kit.
 
9 Investigates discovered it took seven months to get the rape kit back. The average time to have evidence tested in Florida is 145 days.
 
Detectives believe the victim was raped somewhere near State Road 46 and immediately sent the evidence to get tested.
 
Detectives said Levi Raines, 35, posed as a 19-year-old on Facebook to meet a 17-year-old.
 
The victim found out Raines was lying so she kept her distance, but Raines showed up at her house, took her to another house and raped her, according to detectives.
 
Authorities said the DNA was sent to the state's crime lab on Feb. 26, right after the victim's interview.
 
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said the DNA matched Raines on Sept. 25. The State Attorney's Office filed a sexual assault charge on Jan. 6.
 
The FDLE said the crime labs are swamped because they keep losing workers to higher-paying positions.
 
The agency asked for an increase in worker's pay in September, which Gov. Rick Scott is now recommending to the Legislature.
 
Raines is facing up to 30 years in prison. 

Cox Media Group