Advocate staff report

NEWARK – A rape charge against a 22-year-old Newark man was dismissed Monday after the woman who filed the report told law enforcement officers she lied about being sexually assaulted.

Dusty D. Rea had been charged with the first-degree felony May 20 following the woman’s report and an interview with police. The woman reportedly told police Rea had held her down and covered her mouth while engaging in sexual conduct with her.

According to a Newark Division of Police report, the woman who reported the sexual assault admitted to police Monday morning that she had lied.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Chris Reamer filed a motion to dismiss Monday and Rea was released from the Licking County Justice Center. In his motion, Reamer said the possibility the woman had lied was made known to law enforcement after Facebook communications had been brought to the attention of police.

The woman could face falsification charges for filing a false police report.