ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, October 4, 1996                TAG: 9610040064
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-2  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM 

MIGRANT WORKER CHARGED IN RAPE

Botetourt sheriff's deputies arrested an apple picker this week in the alleged rape of a Roanoke teen-ager who apparently got mixed up with some prostitutes working the migrant camp.

When the migrant workers are in Botetourt, "certain women come down and ply their trade for a price," said Sheriff Reed Kelly. Investigators think the 17-year-old tagged along with friends, unaware of what they were up to, Kelly said.

Investigators learned of the rape after the girl went to a hospital to be examined, according to Kelly.

Based on the girl's statement and evidence gathered with a search warrant, deputies arrested Gaston Lawrence, who picked apples for Ikenberry Orchards. Lawrence is free on $5,000 bond.

LENGTH: Short :   25 lines