A New Kensington man is accused of using candy treats to placate a young girl when he sexually assaulted her two years ago.

Thomas Lee Burruss, 48, gave the girl, who police say was 10 when the assaults started, Starburst and Sugar Daddy candy while telling her not to tell anyone, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday by New Kensington police.

The charges against Burruss, including two counts of rape of a child, four counts of sexual assault, two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, eight counts of aggravated assault, two counts of corruption of minors and four counts of indecent assault.

Burruss was denied bond when he was arraigned Tuesday evening and sent to the Westmoreland County Prison. His preliminary hearing before New Kensington District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. is scheduled for April 18.

Burruss’ attorney, Duke George Jr., said he did not know much about the case and had not yet spoken with his client, but said he was perplexed by the charges.

“I can’t believe that he’s charged with all those charges,” George said. “From what I understand, there was an investigation done on this years ago and it came back unfounded.”

New Kensington police Detective Sgt. Paul Manke Jr., who filed the charges, and police Chief Bob Deringer did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment.

According to the complaint, the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau reported the sexual assault to New Kensington police in 2022. New Kensington police interviewed the girl’s mother the day after receiving the report.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred between March 1 and July 26, 2022. During an interview, the girl told police “Mr. Tom raped me” and recounted the incidents in detail, the complaint said.

Burruss denied having sex with the child when he was interviewed in August 2022. He said he did give the girl and another girl candy.

“He was interviewed by the proper authorities at that point in time. It came back unfounded. This is what’s so perplexing about the case,” George said.

Burruss’ interview in August 2022 was the last date referenced in the complaint filed by police. No explanation is given on why charges were not filed earlier.

Burruss still is awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges of prohibited possession of a firearm and simple assault that New Kensington police filed in February. In that incident, he is accused of pointing a gun at a man on Seventh Street before handing the weapon to a woman and telling her to shoot the man.

His preliminary hearing on those charges also is scheduled for April 18.

Burruss is prohibited from having a gun because he was previously convicted of robbery in 2007.

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