Man faces sexual assault charges
JEFFERSON TWP — A man already jailed on charges he dragged an off-duty police officer by his vehicle is now accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
Lee J. Rapsinski, 20, of Penn Township was arraigned Wednesday on five charges, three of them felonies, in the latest case filed against him.
State police allege Rapsinski on Nov. 11 molested the girl in his car on Dinnerbell Road in Jefferson Township.
The victim during a forensic interview Nov. 16 recounted that she met the defendant on Snapchat and eventually agreed to “hang out” with him, according to court documents.
She told investigators that after walking away from her home in Jefferson Township, Rapsinski picked her up in his car. He drove to a gravel pull-off in a wooded area on Dinnerbell Road and they got into the back seat.
He is accused of touching her and pulling down his pants, documents said, and fondling her despite her telling him “no.”
Police also allege the defendant while communicating with the girl on social media, exposed himself to her via live stream video.
District Judge Sue Haggerty arraigned Rapsinski on felony charges of aggravated indecent assault, interference with the custody of children and corruption of minors, and misdemeanor charges of indecent exposure and indecent assault.
Haggerty set $50,000 bail in the case.
Rapsinski has been in Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail since Nov. 11 when state police arrested him in the earlier case.
Police said he threatened a man with a knife during an altercation at Dinnerbell and Whitaker roads in Jefferson Township.
Butler Township Patrolman Rachel Dovidio, who was not working, came upon the incident. She approached the men and identified herself as an off-duty officer. She also notified state police.
Rapsinski, however, got into his sport utility vehicle and began to drive away. The officer opened the door and tried to prevent him from leaving.
The defendant “dragged Dovidio from the door with the vehicle until she fell to the ground,” according to a police affidavit. She was not injured.
Troopers subsequently found him in a wooded area behind his house.
He is awaiting trial in the case on a list of charges including aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats.
