Carson City man arrested in rape of seven-year-old boy

A Carson City man remained in custody Saturday, charged with sexually assaulting a 7-year-old boy.

Gerald F. Karpe, 42, a maintenance worker, was booked into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony rape of a victim under 16 years old.

According to the arrest report, deputies were called to the child's home July 14 by the boy's mother. She told police she and her son had moved out of state, and when she told the boy she had to come back to the area to sell a home, the child was "angry and distant."

She said the boy had also recently begun to wet his bed and "display strange behavior traits."

When she questioned him, he told her that "Jerry did bad things to him."

The boy then told police Karpe had allegedly assaulted him at least nine times at Karpe's Champion Street mobile home. The victim and Karpe are related.

A week later, investigators again interviewed the child and his story remained the same, according to the arrest report. The child was also given a sexual assault examine which found injuries consistent with rape.

Karpe was questioned by detectives on Friday and denied any wrongdoing. He admitted having the child to his home to play video games, but resisted any suggestion he'd hurt the boy, the report indicates.

"Based on the child's interviews, his consistent statements and knowledge of the sexual acts performed, his mother's statements referencing bed-wetting and behavioral change (and) the positive findings during the rape exam, I believe probable cause existed for the arrest of (Karpe)," wrote Detective Keith Bopko in the report.

Karpe is being held on $100,000 bail.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.