POCATELLO — An 18-year-old local man has been charged with three felony sex crimes after police say he engaged in sexual acts with a 15-year-old girl.

Kenyan Andrew Metcalf, of Pocatello, was arrested Nov. 13 on charges of rape, lewd conduct with a minor, and sexual abuse of a child under 16 years of age for alleged sexual offenses that occurred during a three-week span last month, according to police and court records the Idaho State Journal obtained this week.

The investigation began to unfold after one of the victim’s relatives told Pocatello police on Oct. 21 the girl was having sexual relations with an adult, later identified as Metcalf, court records show.

Pocatello police interviewed the victim at her school in the presence of her probation officer, during which she initially denied a sexual relationship but admitted to sneaking Metcalf into her residence late at night.

Officers conducted a forensic examination of the girl’s cell phone, which revealed explicit messages between her and Metcalf on Snapchat discussing sexual acts, including messages with references to sexual intercourse and other sexual contact, police said.

A records check confirmed Metcalf turned 18 in May.

Police obtained search warrants for both Snapchat and Instagram accounts. Data provided by Snap, LLC confirmed the explicit nature of the relationship through extensive message exchanges between the two, according to court documents.

Police also discovered messages showing Metcalf and the girl were aware of and actively concealing Metcalf’s true age from the victim’s father, said police, adding that in one exchange, the victim told Metcalf her father believed he was 17 years old.

Despite the ongoing investigation and a safety plan implemented by authorities, contact between Metcalf and the victim continued. The girl later reported that Metcalf came to her residence at 6 a.m. on Nov. 13 and they were left unattended for approximately two and a half hours while her father was asleep, police said.

Officers arrested Metcalf at a local high school later that day. The report says Metcalf was located with hickeys on his neck and glitter on his face.

When officers attempted to interview Metcalf after his arrest he immediately asked for an attorney, terminating the interview, police said.

Police obtained a search warrant to photograph and collect DNA evidence from Metcalf, which included documenting the hickeys, glitter and blue marker writing on his lower back and buttocks area, court records show.

During a brief pre-Miranda interview, Metcalf told police he was homeless and typically slept in parks, court documents said.

Metcalf was subsequently charged, arrested and booked at Bannock County Jail in Pocatello.

Metcalf appeared in front of 6th District Magistrate Judge Carol “Tippi Jarman for an arraignment hearing on Nov. 14, during which his bond was set at $225,000.

During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, the case against him was dismissed but prosecutors refiled the charges and he appeared in front of 6th District Magistrate Judge David A. Hooste for an arraignment hearing on Wednesday, where his bond was set at $25,000

He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing in front of Jarman on Dec. 9.

Bannock County Prosecutor Ian Johnson said the dismissal was related to issues with witness testimony that have since been resolved and he expects the case to proceed without problem moving forward.

The rape charge filed against Metcalf carries a potential sentence of one year to life in prison, the lewd conduct charge is punishable by up to life in prison and the sexual abuse charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. Each charge also includes potential fines of up to $50,000.