Hearing set today for man charged with sex with Merced teen

A 62-year-old Modesto man charged with having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Merced girl is set to appear in court later today for a preliminary hearing.

Robert Grover Dingman has pleaded not guilty to nearly two dozen criminal charges in connection with his alleged yearlong relationship with the girl.

Dingman’s hearing is scheduled for later this afternoon before Judge Mark V. Bacciarini in Merced County Superior Court, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

The judge, following today’s preliminary hearing, is expected to determine whether prosecutors have sufficient evidence to order Dingman to stand trial on the charges.

He was arrested Jan. 17 by the Merced Police Department. Detective Raquel Rios, the lead investigator in the case, took Dingman into custody after arranging a meeting between him and the girl at a Merced motel.

Police said Dingman met the girl through social media websites and arranged meetings for sex at motels. Investigators believe he and girl engaged in more than 30 sexual acts over a yearlong period. He is also accused of providing the girl with alcohol and marijuana, police said.

This story will be updated.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 9:39 AM with the headline "Hearing set today for man charged with sex with Merced teen."