Barberton man charged with kidnapping, raping 15-year-old Akron boy

COPLEY, Ohio - A 51-year-old Barberton man has been accused of raping and kidnapping a 15-year-old boy.

On Aug. 16, an Akron teen arranged to meet up with someone via text message or social media that he believed was much closer to his own age, Copley police said.

The victim and John Quinlan, 51, met up near the teen’s house and the two drove to a Rothrock Road motel in Copley, police said. Officers said they are not sure if the teen victim was forced into the motel room or he went inside willingly, but the victim was held against his will.

According to Copley police, there was sexual contact between the two, but the 15-year-old was able to escape and ran to the parking lot. That’s when he broke out the window of Quinlan’s car to get to his cell phone, police said. The teen ran, worrying that he would be chased, but police said Quinlan got back into his car and drove away.

Officers were called to the motel at about 9 p.m. that day for a person breaking a car window. When they arrived, they found the teen who told officers he was raped.

On Aug. 17, Quinlan turned himself in and was charged with kidnapping and rape. Police said he was taken to the Summit County Jail, but was released on Aug. 23 on $250,000 bond.

The police department said the incident is still under investigation.