An Ironton man was arrested Sunday and charged with five counts of first-degree rape after people familiar with the accused and the victim alerted police.

Thomas E. Rucker, 61, of 1104 S. 10th St., was taken into custody Saturday just before 10 p.m. and was arraigned Monday in Ironton Municipal Court.

Judge O. Clark Collins set bond at $300,000 and ordered Rucker to return to court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Collins appointed Warren Morford as Rucker’s legal counsel.

Ironton police detective Jim Akers said the victim was a mentally handicapped adult. It is unclear when the alleged incidents occurred.

“She said it just happened last week and he says it happened a while ago,” Akers said.

The incident remains under investigation. Rucker remains in the Lawrence County Jail.