Girl, 13, testifies against man accused of sexually assaulting her
A 13-year-old girl testified the Butler man accused of sexually assaulting her would give her nicotine before or after the sexual abuse in a Monday, Oct. 6, preliminary hearing.
District Judge William Fullerton held all charges for court against James Leroy Reed, 29, who was charged with six felony counts of statutory sexual assault, one felony count each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors; and seven misdemeanor counts of indecent assault following an April 30 ChildLine report.
The 13-year-old girl testified the sexual contact between herself and Reed, whom she said she had known her entire life, began last year. She said the most recent incident occurred in January or February.
She did not remember exactly when the contact began but remembered the first incident occurred on a cold Sunday morning in fall or winter.
The girl testified she would visit Reed’s residence often and did not have physical contact with him each time. Each time they did, Reed would give the girl nicotine before or after, she said.
The two had sexual contact six times, the girl said. She said the incidents occurred in Reed’s bed and on a couch in a common area of his home. The girl said both her best friend and a young family member had witnessed at least one incident on different occasions.
She said in one instance, her best friend was on another couch in the same room while Reed and the girl had sexual contact. She said Reed’s children were also in the residence during at least one encounter.
Reed is represented by attorney Michael Waltman of Ketchel Law in Pittsburgh. His formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 25 in Butler County Common Pleas Courtroom 5.