Stephen Brent (top) and Ethan Payne both face multiple statutory rape charges in unrelated cases.

Two men indicted earlier this month on statutory rape charges in unrelated cases are both scheduled to appear Monday, June 18, in Rutherford County Circuit Court in Murfreesboro.

The cases were presented to a Rutherford County grand jury, following separate investigations led by Detective Tommy Roberts, according to two Murfreesboro Police Department arrest reports.

Nineteen-year-old Stephen R. Brent, of Knollwood Place in Murfreesboro, is accused having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was arrested June 5 after being indicted on two counts of statutory rape.

Roberts began the investigation in May after receiving information that Brent had engaged in a sexual relationship with the girl.

“After getting a formal statement from the victim and confirming her age, I called Brent and had him meet me at the Police Department,” Roberts reported. “Brent told me that he and the victim made arrangements (in April) to meet at The Avenue on Medical Center Parkway.”

Once at The Avenue, Brent allegedly drove the girl to a secluded area.

“Brent stated he had sexual intercourse twice that evening with the victim,” Roberts reported, adding after the two had sex, Brent dropped the girl back off at The Avenue.

Following the indictment, Brent was taken into custody and transported to the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center, where he was held a $5,000 bond.

Another Rutherford County man, 21-year-old Ethan S. Payne, of Bailey Collins Road in Smyrna, has been indicted on 11 counts of mitigated statutory rape.

“In May, I was assigned a (case) that indicated Payne was having a sexual relationship with an underage girl,” Roberts reported. “Subsequent to being assigned the case, I interviewed the victim and her mother.”

Roberts reported the girl issued a formal statement verifying her age, which was not included in the report.

“After advising Payne of his Miranda rights, I interviewed him,” he reported. “He stated that he met the victim in February at the Taco Bell in Smyrna. Payne further stated that he and the victim would go to an apartment on Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro and have sexual intercourse on multiple occasions.”

After being indicted by the same grand jury, Payne was also arrested June 5 and booked into the Rutherford County jail, where he was held on a $5,000 bond.