MURRAY – Two men charged with rape in unrelated cases appeared in Calloway County District Court Wednesday, and the mother of one of the defendants appeared for a charge of tampering with a witness.

Dustin Owen, 39, of Murray, is charged with one count of third-degree rape and one count of custodial interference, which are both Class D felonies. During his Wednesday preliminary hearing, which is used to determine whether there is probable cause to move the case forward, the Commonwealth and defense cross-examined Detective Sgt. Justin Swope with the Murray Police Department.

After being sworn in, Swope told Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen that police had initially been contacted on Oct. 1 advising that a runaway 16-year-old female was at Owen’s home in Murray. The juveni

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