EVANS CITY — A Mars area sports official charged with indecent assault previously faced an accusation of child molestation while going by a different name as a California producer and talent manager, according to a state trooper’s testimony Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The 51-year-old Nathan Workman Mitchell, who was known as Joshua Nathan Werkman when charges were filed in California, was accused of inappropriate touching by three boys under age 13 in charges filed recently by Pennsylvania State Police.

The Adams Township man also has four other ChildLine reports accusing him in the case, Trooper Amelia Russin said at the Wednesday preliminary hearing before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz.

“Anything that happened in another county or state is not relevant in this case,” said Mitchell’s defense attorney, Michael Zunder.

He argued the previous charge in California was expunged from Mitchell’s record, but assistant district attorney Laura Pitchford argued it had not been.

The judge held all charges for court against Mitchell. As part of his bond agreement, Mitchell is on electronic monitoring and may not have contact with any minors, including his own children.

Charges filed Monday include three felony counts each of corruption of minors and child endangerment, two felony counts each of sexual assault by a sports official and indecent assault of a person less than 13, three misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of an impaired person and misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 13.

Mitchell was affiliated with Mars Youth Football, where he is banned from all program activities. He was placed on leave at the Adams Area Fire District, where he served as a firefighter and EMT, and at Quality EMS, where he served part time as an EMT.

He is currently employed as the director of cardiology elsewhere, according to Mitchell’s testimony. The name of his employer was not mentioned at the hearing, but Mitchell testified that he travels to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for work.

A man named Nathan Mitchell had been a practice administrator for pulse cardiology in San Bernardino County, California, after graduating from American Career College-Ontario, according to a 2016 article posted by the college.

According to a report by TMZ, Joshua Nathan Werkman was the CEO of Merimark Entertainment and the manager of actors Dylan and Cole Sprouse.

At the hearing, two boys — ages 10 and 11 — testified they would sleep over at Mitchell’s house one to three times per week during the summer beginning about four years ago to spend time with the Mitchell family. The sleepovers were less frequent during the school year, but the boys recalled awakening to the result of the inappropriate touching.

The 10-year-old boy testified he told his parents about the inappropriate touching by Mitchell two years ago, close to when the inappropriate contact began, according to testimony, but state police said they only became aware of the allegations the night of Aug. 24.

A third boy, 10, testified he slept at Mitchell’s house once and told his parents that Mitchell inappropriately touched his buttocks when he got home the next day. State police were contacted at that time.

According to the testimony by the first two boys, Mitchell would also give them melatonin before going to bed around midnight. The boys both testified they sometimes asked for melatonin, but other times were given it without asking. The boys said they each are given access by their parents to melatonin at home and take it as needed.

The 10-year-old boy testified he met Mitchell three to four years ago when Mitchell’s family moved into the neighborhood and quickly became friends with Mitchell’s children.

The first two boys who testified said they quickly began spending the night at Mitchell’s home with his children. The one boy said Mitchell would create a makeshift bed on the floor with a blanket and pillows and then sleep beside the boys.

The one boy testified Mitchell’s children were present most of the time but would occasionally leave during the night to sleep in their own beds. Mitchell’s children also stayed with their mother at times, leaving the 10- and 11-year-old boys alone with Mitchell. The one boy said it made him uncomfortable when Mitchell’s children weren’t there, but he said he thought it would be “rude” to leave.

“His children were the jumping-off point of gaining access to children,” Pitchford said.

The boy said while laying on his side with Mitchell behind him, Mitchell would scratch the his lower back under his shirt and inside his waistband. The boy said each morning at Mitchell’s during the three years, he would wake up with indications that he had been inappropriately touched.

The second boy, age 11, testified Mitchell would also scratch and rub his body under his shirt and below his waist while Mitchell laid next to him. The boy said always gave him melatonin. He also experienced the same indications he had been inappropriately touched.

Mitchell would buy the boys gifts like sweatshirts, a best friends necklace, a phone case and food, the boys said. He would also say “I love you” to the boys while touching them, the boys said.

The boys testified Mitchell would also get on top of them and tickle them, which made them uncomfortable. At one point, Mitchell created a group chat with the boys and his children, the boys said. The 11-year-old said Mitchell also tracked his location.

Zunder argued Mitchell treated the two boys just like his own, and having the location helped ensure the boys were accounted for and followed the house rules.

The third boy, 10, said he knew Mitchell through a local football program where he was a paramedic. He stayed at Mitchell’s house one night when the two other boys were supposed to be staying, but he said Mitchell had kicked the other two boys out for misbehaving.

Mitchell and the boy slept on the makeshift bed, according to the testimony. The boy said while watching a movie, Mitchell rubbed his buttocks over his shorts for about 10 seconds. The boy said he then told Mitchell he was going to the restroom and went to sleep in a different room.

According to his bond agreement, Mitchell may not have contact with any minors, including his children.

Mitchell’s wife argued she felt comfortable with Mitchell being around their children, but Children and Youth Services caseworker Kyle Barger said he has concerns for the children, prompting the judge to deny Mitchell access to them.

His formal arraignment is scheduled at 1 p.m. Oct. 28 in Butler County Common Pleas Courtroom 5.