A Forest Hill man was convicted Monday of raping an 18-year-old woman behind her family home near the Rock Spring Swim Club in Bel Air in 2023.
Kareem Parker, 30, was convicted of first-degree rape, second-degree rape and third-degree sex crimes in Circuit Court, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.
A few weeks before the rape, Parker and the 18-year-old woman communicated on Instagram, but Parker began threatening her if she didn’t stay in touch with him, according to charging documents.
On Aug. 26, the victim walked into the woods behind her parents’ home to meet Parker, and he threatened her again if she didn’t do what he wanted, according to charging documents.
Parker displayed a knife and pushed the victim to the ground, causing her to black out, charging the documents. When she regained consciousness, she found her pants halfway down her legs and pain in her genitals.
She went home and told her mother, and they reported the rape to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. Harford Memorial Hospital conducted a forensic examination and obtained DNA evidence.
The investigation revealed that the victim’s injuries were traumatic and extensive. Sheriff’s deputies searched Parker’s apartment and collected his DNA.
During his arrest on August 6, Parker initially denied any sexual contact with the victim. Parker is being held in the Harford County Detention Center until his sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.
“We are obviously disappointed with the jury’s verdict,” said John Janowich, Parker’s attorney at the Public Prosecution Service. “We will now focus on the sentencing and appeal phases of this trial.”
