Man sentenced to 25 years for raping Marietta woman in her home

Cobb District Attorney Flynn Broady Jr. announced that an Atlanta man was found guilty by a Cobb jury and sentenced to 25 years in prison, followed by probation for life after he raped a woman in her Marietta apartment in 2020.

According to the DA, the Cobb jury found Can Melikoglu, 34, guilty of one count of rape. The case arose on August 3, 2020, when a woman said she woke up to a strange man in bed. 

While at the friend’s home for dinner and drinks, the victim and her sister returned to their Marietta apartment after the woman became intoxicated. Instagram messages were exchanged with Melikoglu and the sister, and he said he wanted to come over and check on the sisters. Melikoglu arrived and hung out with the victim’s sister, who informed him that she had passed out.

Because it was late, the victim’s sister offered to let Melikoglu sleep on the couch. The DA’s office said, “Sometime during the night, Melikolgu went into the victim’s bedroom and raped her while she was passed out. He was still in the victim’s bed when she awoke. The victim had injuries consistent with sexual assault and Melikoglu’s DNA was present.”

The victim testified to the sexual assault during Melikoglu’s trial. Also testifying were witnesses from the dinner party and the victim’s sister. Following the testimony, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on rape and he was sentenced by Cobb Superior Court Judge Julie Adams Jacobs.