Alejandra Espinoza

A 20-year-old woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Clatsop County Circuit Court to allegations of raping and sexually abusing a teenage boy.

Alejandra Espinoza, of Hammond, is charged with four counts of third-degree rape and four counts of third-degree sex abuse.

She is accused of touching and unlawfully engaging in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old boy, according to the indictment.

The alleged incidents occurred between February and May 2014, when Espinoza was 19.

Third-degree rape is a class C felony and third-degree sex abuse is a class A misdemeanor.

Since the victim was under 16 and the age gap between the two was more than three years, the charges rose to the level of felony rape, according to Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis.

“If the victim is under 16, then it can be a felony,” Marquis said. “The assumption is they cannot consent. The idea is you protect children.”

The teenage boy reported the alleged abuse in June 2014, and the case was brought before a grand jury in February, when Espinoza was indicted.

She had an arraignment scheduled in March, but she said she never received the notice and missed the court date. A warrant was issued, and she was arrested and booked Tuesday.

“I just got back from out of state,” Espinoza said in court Wednesday. “I was on vacation for about a year. That is why I didn’t receive any mail.”

She appeared in court via video link from Clatsop County Jail, where she is being held on $25,000 bail.

Defense lawyer Kris Kaino has been appointed to represent Espinoza.

She is due back in court for an early resolution conference in October.