ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996                   TAG: 9605100076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DIANE STRUZZI STAFF WRITER 

POLICE CHARGE MAN WITH RAPING CO-WORKER

A Department of Social Services employee has been charged with raping a co-worker at the Municipal Building in downtown Roanoke.

Police released brief details about the incident Thursday after being contacted by a reporter.

The woman told police the rape occurred between 2:30 and 3 p.m. April 12, Lt. William Beason said. The woman sought treatment at a hospital, whose officials called police about 7 p.m.

Police did not release information about the allegation because the woman initially was unwilling to prosecute the case.

At first the woman said she did not know the man's name, Beason said.

The next day, she named a suspect, but said she did not want to prosecute. On April 29, she called police, said she had changed her mind and took out a warrant against the suspect.

Kenneth David Dunker, 45, of Southwest Roanoke was charged with rape that day.

Neither Roanoke police nor Corinne Gott, the city's superintendent of social services, would elaborate on the circumstances of the rape allegation.

Dunker and the woman both work in the eligibility unit and knew each other, police said. Both have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the conclusion of an investigation by their department, Gott said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May22.

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