A Murray State employee was arrested on charges of rape and custodial interference on Sunday, Oct. 19. 

Dustin Owen, a post-doctoral researcher for Murray State University, was arrested by Murray Police Sunday morning on charges of custodial interference and third-degree rape. According to the arrest citation, the arrest came after Owen admitted to having sexual intercourse with a minor at his home in Murray, following a separate incident with the same juvenile earlier this month.

A Murray State University spokesman did not comment on whether Owen’s employment has been affected by the arrest.

“We are aware of the situation involving a Murray State employee and are working through the institutional process,” a University statement read.  “As this is a personnel matter, Murray State University has no further comment at this time.”

According to the police citation, Owen was arrested by Murray Police on Oct. 19 following a report of a missing juvenile being found with him at a location in Farmington, Kentucky. 

The juvenile was described by police as a “habitual runaway” and someone who had a previous history with Owen.

On Oct. 1, the minor was found at Owen’s home in Murray. According to the citation, Owen admitted to having sexual intercourse with the underage girl, who, Owen said, had told him she was 18 at the time of the incident. The officer on the case explained to Owen that she was only 16, and told him that if she made contact with him again to contact the police. 

Following his arrest on Oct. 19, Owen said the minor had showed up at his home again late in the night and said she needed a place to stay. According to the citation, instead of contacting police, Owen agreed to let her stay the night. Owen then admitted to having sexual intercourse with the minor that night, even though he knew she was underage.

The minor was taken to Murray-Calloway County Hospital and given a safety kit and put in contact with the Lotus Sexual Assault Center in Paducah. Owen was detained and charged with third-degree rape and custodial interference. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29 in Calloway County District Court.

According to the University, Owen was employed at Murray State only as a postdoc associate at the Watershed Studies Institute. University spokesmen would not confirm whether Owen had ever taught a class at the University. Owen’s name, however, does appear on RateMyProfessor with three student reviews as a professor in the biology department. The News also spoke to a student who said she had taken his class last semester and provided her class schedule, which listed him as a professor.

A Murray State University spokesman did not confirm if Owen had ever had a teaching role on campus, saying it was a personnel matter and could not be discussed.