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Teen charged with other sex crimes

His hearing set for next week

JACKSON TWP — A Seneca Valley High School student who already faces charges for received indecent pictures of a minor had more charges filed against him Tuesday for a separate incident.

Joshua C. Speicher, 19, of Cranberry Township was arrested and arraigned Wednesday, a month after allegedly having a sexual encounter with a girl under age 13 at the high school.

He is in Butler County Jail awaiting his preliminary hearing next Tuesday.

Police reports say a faculty member made a call about the Feb. 5 incident to ChildLine.

The girl, who is not the same girl whose pictures Speicher had, was interviewed by the Butler County Alliance for Children. Her exact age was not given.

“I’m not sure how the faculty member got a hold of the information,” said school resource officer Jason Young. “When they did, they also reported it to me and the principal.”

The girl said Speicher told her that she was “beautiful” and started asking her “weird questions ... and made me feel uncomfortable.” Such questions included her bra size and if she wanted to see his private parts.

The report says Speicher kissed her and tried to put his hand up her shirt, but she stopped him. Speicher then moved his hand to her breast area over her clothing and kissed her neck area.

Speicher then stepped away from her and walked to the other side of the room. She changed the subject, and he began to play a song for her and asked her to sit next to him.

He kissed her again and pulled his pants down. She responded by looking away from him.

She then left to go outside and catch an activity bus.

The report states as she was walking to the bus area, Speicher followed her and called her a “whore.” When she turned around, Speicher said he was “just kidding.”

Speicher faces charges of indecent assault, corruption of minors, harassment, open lewdness and endangering the welfare of children.

His preliminary hearing is at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday at District Judge Wayne Seibel’s office in Evans City.

He did not make bail, which was set at $20,000.

This comes after another case involving Speicher.

He was charged in late February for felony possession of child pornography four months after receiving photographs of a 14-year-old Seneca Valley Middle School student with exposed breasts.

His charges for that incident were waived to Butler County Court, where he will be arraigned April 19.

He is charged for receiving the pictures about two weeks after the sexual encounter with the other girl. Both incidents took place while he was a student at the high school.

Linda Andreassi, district communications director, said Speicher is no longer enrolled at the school, but would not comment further on the investigation.

Young said Speicher was placed in alternative education after the child pornography charges.

“It’s been really bizarre,” he said. “It’s not very common at all.”

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