Police: Cohoes man rapes 15-year-old girl he met online

A Cohoes man is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Ulster County.

State police said 22-year-old Benjamin Randall met the teen on a social media site on March 21. They spoke online for several weeks, and she agreed to meet Randall after school, investigators said.

Randall picked her up, drove to a remote area and sexually assaulted her, police said, then returned to the school to drop her off.

Randall was charged with third-degree rape and third-degree sexual abuse. He was arraigned in Marbletown Town Court. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or surety. An order of protection was issued for the victim.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect's case is asked to contact State Police in Middletown at 845-344-5300.