Man charged with raping child in Kennesaw park

Austin Dean Stovall was arrested by Police and booked into the Cobb County jail after being accused of raping a young girl at Kennesaw’s Swift-Cantrell Park. According to an arrest warrant,  Stovall, 32, raped the child who was under the age of 16 in a bathroom at the park Sunday evening. 

The arrest record says Stovall reportedly called the girl over to his vehicle and said he would hurt her if she didn’t follow him to the bathroom.

Stovall was arrested Wednesday and remains in jail. He is not eligible for bond. His charges include rape, aggravated sexual battery, child molestation, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and cruelty to children in the 1st degree.

“First, my thoughts are with the victim and their family following this egregious incident. This is something that no juvenile should ever have to experience,” said Kennesaw Police Chief William Westenberger in a statement on social media. “I would like to thank our officers and detectives for their swift response, thorough investigation, and securing the arrest warrant within 24 hours. I would like to thank Cobb County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, for their relentless pursuit and arrest of the suspect.”