Bethany Man Accused Of Child Rape After Meeting Victim Online

A Bethany man admitted to police he knowingly had sex with an underage girl, authorities said.

Markus Mullin, 24, first told police he thought the victim was of age, but later admitted his guilt.

Mullin is behind bars at the Garvin County Jail after police said he drove over an hour from his home to have sex with a girl under the age of 14.

“A juvenile female was picked up in Paoli on February 20 and then returned on February 21,” said Pauls Valley Assistant Chief of Police, Derrick Jolley.

Investigators already had Mullin's name which was taken from a device used to chat online.

It didn't take long to pin down where in Pauls Valley the crime took place.

“My detectives just started cold calling the hotels the very first call they made was to Holiday Inn and sure enough Mullin had rented a room on the night the child was gone from Paoli,” said Jolley.

Hotel security cameras caught Mullin and the victim walking inside.

Cameras also caught Mullin picking up the victim prior to in Paoli.

Pauls Valley police and an OSBI agent met Mullin at his job where he originally told police the victim was of age.

According to court documents, he later told detectives the girl was underage because of the way she acted.

“He admitted to some things and provided a very similar story to what the juvenile had disclosed,” said Jolley.

Investigators hope this case serves as a warning to parents to monitor online activity.

“As a parent you can't be too safe, these people are out there,” said Jolley. “Check your kids’ phone, check their tablets, check their internet usage and see what they’re doing. If you’re not being nosey, you’re wrong.”

More charges could be likely as investigators obtain search warrants from electronic devices.

Mullin remains in jail on $100,000 bond.