Pretrial date set for Murfreesboro man charged of rape

29-year-old Bernardo Ruiz of Murfreesboro was arraigned Monday, November 27 on the charges of rape and 4^th degree sexual assault in the Pike County Circuit Court before Circuit Court Judge Bryan Chesshir.

Ruiz was arrested in Illinois on November 7 after fleeing from local authorities. He has been extradited back to Pike County where he is scheduled to be tried by a jury of his peers.

The case against Ruiz was opened earlier this year, when his wife reported Ruiz had been sending sexually explicit texts to her juvenile sister. The juvenile later reported in June that Ruiz had sexually assaulted her and raped her in her home.

Ruiz’s pretrial date was set for February 12, 2024, and a trial date of March 4^th.