Jason Hites

MERCER — A Butler County man, already a registered sexual offender, remains jailed here on charges he raped a young girl over a 2½-year period.

Jason Lynn Hites, 27, of Harrisville is accused of sexually assaulting the girl, now 8, in Mercer and Pine Township, Mercer County, as well as in Harrisville.

State police said the crimes occurred between December 2006 and July of this year.

Police on Friday arrested Hites, who was arraigned on four counts each of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and aggravated indecent assault.

Additionally, he is charged with four counts each of indecent assault and sexual assault, two counts of indecent exposure, six counts of corruption of minors, as well as failure to comply with registration of sexual offenders requirements.

He is in the Mercer County Jail on $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday before District Judge Neil McEwen.

Hites, according to the Web site maintained by state police, was deemed a sexual offender under the state's Megan's Law in 2001 when he was convicted of indecent assault in Mercer County.

Under Pennsylvania law, offenders must annually confirm their address with state police. They also must register whenever they move, change employment or enroll in school.

Court records showed the Hites' conviction stemmed from the sexual assault of a child less than 13 years old. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a maximum 18 months in prison.

In 2006, Hites was arrested for not verifying his address with state police as required of sexual offenders. He pleaded guilty, records showed, and was ordered to pay $246 in fines and court costs.