Tru Miranda

A 19-year-old Butler man is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl earlier this month at his West Cunningham Street apartment.

City police Wednesday arrested Tru Mann Miranda on rape and other charges. He is being held in Butler County Prison on $250,000 bail.

Investigators on Oct. 10 learned through ChildLine, a statewide child abuse hot line, that a 15-year-old girl had reportedly been strangled, bitten and sexually assaulted at an acquaintance's home, according to court documents.

Police Detective Nathan Shulik interviewed Miranda that same day. Miranda waived his right to have an attorney with him. He acknowledged being at his apartment Oct. 7 with the girl and two others.

They were all watching a Netflix show in his bedroom. He was in bed with the girl, documents said. The other two guests were sitting on a chair.

The defendant acknowledged that he and the girl began kissing and, after the other guests left the room, they had sex. Shulik said Miranda admitted that he knew the girl was 15.

The detective spoke to the girl on Oct. 12. She corroborated some of the defendant's account, but claimed he forced himself on her, She said she repeatedly told him “no,” documents said, but he would not stop.

During the alleged assault, according to a police affidavit. the girl said Miranda put one of his hands around her throat and “began to strangle her,”

A forensic interviewer on Friday spoke to the girl, who provided the “same information” as she did to police, documents said.

Miranda is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, strangulation and corruption of minors, all felonies.

Additionally, he is charged with two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.