A Columbus man is facing a rape charge after police say DNA evidence tied him to the alleged sexual assault of a juvenile in east Columbus. Officers arrested 39-year-old Marquese Hobson on March 25, and a judge set his bond at $750,000. Court records list a preliminary hearing for April 3.
Police say DNA from exam was key break
Investigators say the case turned when DNA collected during a sexual-assault exam generated a profile that pointed to Hobson, according to NBC4. The Columbus Division of Police submitted the exam samples to a lab, and detectives say the resulting DNA profile matched Hobson, the outlet reports.
Criminal complaint traces investigative steps
The criminal complaint states that detectives "submitted evidence connecting Hobson to test results" and confirms that DNA samples were gathered during a sexual-assault examination, NBC4 reports. The juvenile victim was taken to Nationwide Childrens Hospital for a recorded forensic interview and a medical exam, according to the report.
How child forensic exams and interviews typically work
In central Ohio, forensic interviews for child victims are generally handled at Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Center for Family Safety and Healing, where trained staff conduct recorded, trauma-informed interviews observed by a multidisciplinary team, as outlined by Nationwide Childrens Hospital and court records. An Ohio appeals court decision explains that these interviews are recorded and that medical exams in child sex-abuse cases often reveal no visible injuries even when abuse has occurred, which is why DNA and other lab testing can be critical evidence in prosecuting sexual assaults.
What the April 3 hearing will decide
Hobson is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 3. Under Ohio law, that hearing functions as a probable-cause check where prosecutors must present enough evidence to move the case forward to common pleas court, according to the Ohio Revised Code. If the judge finds probable cause, the case can be bound over for indictment or other action at the county level. If not, the defendant could be released or the proceedings continued while investigators gather additional evidence.
Privacy protections and local support
Because the case involves an alleged juvenile victim, authorities withhold the minors name and identifying details from public records. Local support services, including the Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, provide forensic interviews, medical care and advocacy to help child victims and their families navigate both the criminal process and the aftermath of abuse.
