Lynn teen nabbed for rape

LYNN – A city man has been arrested following a past sexual assault on a child.Sterling J. Melo, 17, of 7 Holland Ave., Lynn, was arrested and charged with statutory rape of a child Wednesday and arraigned later that day at Lynn District Court.Melo is currently being held at the Essex County Jail in Middleton and his next court date is scheduled for July 31.According to a police report, officers responded to a call of a past sexual assault and spoke with the victim’s mother upon arrival, who said her 13-year-old daughter told her that she had sexual intercourse with a guy named Sterling who is 17 years old.The victim’s mother said she could not get further information out of her daughter, so she texted Melo to see if he would meet up with her.Melo reportedly refused to meet with the victim’s mother, but told her that he had spoken to the victim’s father and was going to go to the Lynn Police Department to speak with someone regarding the issue.The victim said she had met Melo at her mother’s friend’s house sometime last year and began texting each other.One day in March, the victim said she was over Melo’s house at night and were hanging out, when the next thing she said she knew, the two were having sex.The victim said the sex was consensual and that Melo did not force her, and that it was the only time they engaged in sex.Police forwarded the information for further investigation.Prior to Melo’s arrest on the statutory rape charge, he was previously arrested Feb. 28 for carrying a dangerous weapon, possession of a class A substance with intent to distribute, drug violation near a school or park, possession of a class B substance with intent to distribute, drug violation near a school or park, and driving a vehicle down the wrong way of a street.Due to the charges in February, Melo’s bail was revoked Wednesday because he violated terms of his probation.