A Texas man who was arrested in Checotah on July 11 on suspicion of kidnapping a 14-year-old-girl has been charged in McIntosh County District Court with second degree rape and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Marco Almanza, 27, of Anna, Texas, was charged on July 24 and was ordered to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 11 for a pre-preliminary conference. Bond has been set at $500,000.

According to a report by Checotah Police Officer Jacoo Mitchell, the suspect stopped at the Checotah Stop convenience store, 1220 W. Gentry, for gas shortly before 7 a.m.

The alleged victim went inside the store where she asked the clerk to call the police because she had been kidnapped.

The girl returned to the vehicle and as the suspect was pulling away Police Chief Glover stopped him.

According to the report, Almanza said the teenager was his girlfriend and that he was helping her run away from her home in McKinney, Texas.

He allegedly stole a car owned by the girl’s mother.