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By RICHARD LIEBSON
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: November 20, 2003)

A Long Island man has been charged with the statutory rape of a 16-year-old Lewisboro girl after police said they met over the Internet.

Juan F. Aleman, 30, was charged with third-degree rape, a felony, after being questioned by Westchester County police detectives Tuesday night. He is accused of having sex with the girl on several occasions beginning in June, when police said she traveled to his home in Islip to meet him.

Deputy Police Commissioner William Rehm said the girl began exchanging messages with Aleman after accessing his personal Internet Web site in November 2002. The Internet contact continued, and they exchanged photographs of each other in various stages of undress, police said. In June, the girl went to Aleman's Islip home and had sex with him, investigators said. She continued to visit him throughout the summer, and, in August, Aleman is accused of traveling to Westchester and having sex with the girl in her home.

Authorities began investigating the case on Friday, after officials from the girl's school district became aware of the relationship and contacted the county police Special Victims Investigations Team. Also involved in the investigation were Lewisboro police and the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.

Rehm said police seized computers from both Aleman's and the girl's homes and were examining their contents. He said the investigation was continuing and more charges may be filed.

Aleman was arraigned in Lewisboro Town Court on Tuesday and was being held without bail at the Westchester County Jail in Valhalla. Additional court information was not available.

Send e-mail to Richard Liebson