A 37-year-old man on the Megan’s Law registry is accused of performing sexual acts on a 14-year-old girl twice last week in a wooded area in Butler Township, according to state police.

Paul Anthony Rucinski allegedly performed the acts Tuesday Aug. 25 and Wednesday, Aug. 26, in the woods along a trail that stretches from Hansen Avenue to Butler Senior High School. Rucinski claimed he asked the girl’s age twice and was told she was 18 both times, according to police.

He was charged Monday, Aug. 31, with two felony counts each of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and sexual assault, felony corruption of minors and two misdemeanor counts each of indecent exposure and indecent assault following the incidents.

Police located Rucinski and the girl Wednesday after being contacted by a state parole officer. Rucinski said he met the girl Monday in Butler and agreed to meet her again Tuesday. They met for the final time Wednesday, when Rucinski was apprehended.

Police said the two walked around in Butler on Tuesday and Wednesday before going to the trail. In both instances, Rucinski took the girl 20 to 30 feet off the trail into the woods where the acts took place, police said.

Police said Rucinski asked the girl’s age twice the Monday they met and was told she was 18 both times. He reportedly asked more questions about her age and about college Wednesday, which is when she told him she was a juvenile. Police said Rucinski then reported it to his parole officer. He told police he had talked with his parole officer about verifying he was talking to an adult before starting “anything serious.”

Rucinski was convicted of attempted sexual assault in April 2019, according to the Megan’s Law registry. The offense occurred in 2013.

Rucinski’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 before District Judge Kevin O’Donnell. He is being held in Butler County Prison on a $250,000 bail.