NOTE: This article contains verbiage which may be disturbing to some readers.

Authorities are investigating a rape that allegedly occurred in the Nottingham area last week.

Police confirm they are investigating a report of a second-degree rape that occurred at 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5th.

The incident allegedly occurred in the area of Duntore Place at Walfield Drive (21236), according to police.

A NottinghamMD reader says their HOA president informed the community that the incident occurred at a playground.  NottinghamMD has not been able to confirm this report.

Second-degree rape is defined as follows, according to Maryland Criminal Lawyer (note: this description contains verbiage which may be disturbing to some readers):

First, the perpetrator must have vaginal intercourse with the victim. Section 3-304(a). Second, under Section 3-304(a) the perpetrator must have had the vaginal intercourse under at least one of the following sets of circumstances:
- The act occurred without the consent of the victim through the perpetrator’s use of force or threat of force.
- The victim is a mentally defective individual, or was mentally incapacitated or physically helpless at the time of the offense– a fact that the perpetrator knew or reasonably should have known at the time when the vaginal intercourse occurred.
- The victim is younger than 14 years old and the perpetrator is at least four years older than the victim.

If a person violates this section, that person is guilty of the felony of second degree rape and faces a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. However, if a person over 18 years old violates this section and the victim is younger than 13, then that person is guilty of felony second degree rape and faces 15 years to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence.

Authorities say they will not be releasing any additional details “until the case has been cleared.”