SPIRIT LAKE — The case of a man accused of raping a missing teen girl has been referred to First District Court for further action.

Michael R. Deherrera, 53, of Spirit Lake, is charged with rape, a felony.

He is also charged with providing shelter to a runaway child, a misdemeanor.

After a preliminary hearing last week, Judge Timothy Van Valin ruled that enough evidence exists to bind the case over to district court.

The charges stem from July, when Spirit Lake police received a tip that a missing girl was living at Deherrera’s residence.

The 17-year-old was reported missing in Spokane about three months earlier.

She had contacted her family, according to court documents, and said she had been living with Deherrera, who she believed was taking advantage of her.

The girl testified in court that she met Deherrera online. She said Deherrera knew she was a minor who had been reported missing.

The two reportedly lived together in a Washington hotel room for several weeks before moving to his RV, which sat on a relative’s property in Spirit Lake.

Deherrera had sex with the girl on multiple occasions, she said.

Idaho Code defines rape, in part, as penetration where the victim is 16 or 17 years of age, the perpetrator is three or more years older than the victim and the pair are not lawfully married.

When questioned by police, Deherrera reportedly said he did not have a sexual relationship with the girl and she only helped him with his food-delivery job.

He said they lived in separate areas of his RV. He also denied knowledge of the girl being reported missing, police said.

Police arrested Deherrera at his home.

Prosecutors said Deherrera was previously convicted in California of cruelty to a child, a felony.

Deherrera remains in jail on $100,000 bond.

He is expected to enter a plea in October.