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Man charged with sexual assault

State police are accusing a Jefferson Township man of performing sexual acts on a friend while he slept at his home following a party.

Charges filed Tuesday against Mathew J. Lehnerd, 20, include felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault, and one misdemeanor count of indecent assault.

Lehnerd was released on $30,000 unsecured bond following his arraignment Wednesday by District Judge Lewis Stoughton.

According to charging documents, police received a Jan. 1 call from Lehnerd's friend, who said he was at a New Year's Eve party at Lehnerd's home at the time of the incident.

The man told officers he had fallen asleep around 3:30 or 4 a.m. on a “two-seater love seat” in Lehnerd's basement, according to the affidavit.

“He later awoke at approximately 6 a.m. on Jan. 1 to find his belt undone, pants unzippered and pulled slightly down his waist,” police said.

Police said the man left Lehnerd's home and went to the hospital to have a sexual assault kit conducted. Police said around 2 p.m. Jan. 1, Lehnerd texted the friend about the incident.

“The defendant states in said messages, 'I'm sorry it was me.' and 'I'm sorry (his friend's name) I'm sorry that I did this,'” police said.

On the evening of Jan. 1, police spoke with Lehnerd, who admitted to performing the sexual acts on his sleeping friend.

A preliminary hearing for Lehnerd is set for Oct. 19 before Stoughton.

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