Cleveland couple accused of raping girl, infecting her with HIV

(CBS/WOIO/AP) CLEVELAND - A couple accused of kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl and infecting her with HIV pleaded not guilty in court Friday, reports CBS affiliate WOIO.

Richard and Tranace Morris are accused of taking in a runaway girl they met online, abusing her and refusing to let her leave. The victim, now 16, says the couple infected her with HIV and took her to Detroit for an abortion after getting her pregnant.

The couple was arrested June 11 and charged Wednesday with kidnapping, sexual contact, felonious assault, interference with custody, contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child, obstructing official business, possessing criminal tools, tampering with records and forgery.

The girl met Richard Morris on an Internet chat line in 2009, reports Ohio news source Cleveland.com. The two reportedly met and over the course of many months he allegedly picked her up from her home to have sex.

Police searched the couple's Cleveland home several times after the girl was reported missing on Sept. 28, 2010, but were unable to find her because the couple hid her in a compartment inside a sofa couch, reports Cleveland.com.

Police reportedly say they found two surveillance cameras outside of the home.

The couple is currently being held in the Justice Center. The man is being held on $250,000 bond and the woman on $100,000. They are scheduled to appear in court July 1.

The girl, now 16, is in a group home.