Today in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Charles Erby, 47, of no fixed address, to 40 years in prison after a jury convicted him on two counts of second-degree rape, requiring him to register as a sex offender for life.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “This stems from an incident on April 10, 2024. The defendant began speaking to a 17-year-old at the Rockville Metro Station. The two boarded the same metrobus, where the conversation continued. The victim, who was on the way home from school, became uncomfortable with the conversation and exited the bus at Veirs Mill Road and Aspen Hill Road. The defendant followed, then took the victim’s hand and guided the victim to a wooded area. The defendant then raped the victim. An investigation by the Montgomery County Police Special Victims Division led to Erby’s arrest. Assistant State’s Attorneys Frank Lazzaro and Erin Chapman prosecuted this matter.
“This defendant preyed upon an innocent child in our community. The judge very appropriately issued the maximum penalty allowed under the law. All of our children should be able to travel to and from school safely, without the concern of becoming victims of crime. We thank Montgomery County Police and our prosecution team for their work in seeking justice in this matter,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
