FRANKLIN—Tremaine M. Porter, 26, has been charged in a third Franklin rape, this one dating back to Jan. 1, said Capt. Timothy Whitt, spokesman for the Franklin Police Department.

Porter, of the 7600 block of Harvest Drive, Suffolk, has been charged with rape, abduction with the intent to defile, object sexual penetration, possession of a firearm by a violent convicted felon and three counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Porter has been held without bond in Western Tidewater Regional Jail since being changed with raping two Franklin women in July.

On Jan. 1, a 55-year-old female was walking home after a church service. When she approached the area of Gardner Street and Armory Drive, she was accosted by a suspect, brandishing a handgun, who attempted to rob the victim. When the victim told the suspect she had no money, the suspect reportedly forced her behind a residence where he sexually assaulted her.

Evidence came to light through the continued investigation of all three incidents, which led detectives to connecting additional charges to Porter, said Whitt.

Porter was arrested in Suffolk on July 24 in connection with a rape and abduction of a juvenile victim, which occurred July 23.

The suspect reportedly led the 17-year-old victim to the back of an apartment complex on Tuesday evening, where he allegedly abducted and raped her by force.

The next morning, July 24, he is alleged to have forced entry through a back door of a Washington Street location and sexually assaulted the 48-year-old resident.

Franklin police were led to information on the rape of the juvenile victim while investigating the Washington Street rape and burglary.

Porter’s charges in connection with the juvenile victim are rape and abduction.

His charges in connection with the Washington Street incident are rape, abduction, four counts of sodomy, burglary and grand larceny.