State police accuse two men of sex assaults in Mt. Pleasant Twp., East Huntingdon
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Two Westmoreland County men were charged Friday by state police for allegedly sexually assaulting two underage girls in separate incidents in Mt. Pleasant and East Huntingdon townships.
Kenneth R. Daniels II, 39, of Mt. Pleasant was arraigned on charges of rape, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and corruption of minors in connection with the assaults which allegedly began more than five years ago when the girl was 9 years old.
Trooper David Wineland reported that the girl told investigators, in separate interviews with A Child’s Place in North Huntingdon and troopers, that the 5-feet 11-inch tall, 320-pound Daniels repeatedly threatened her after the assaults, “saying he would make her life a living hell and miserable” if she told anyone.
Eckels ordered Daniels held in the county prison, pending an Aug. 2 preliminary hearing, after he failed to post $100,000 bail.
In the other alleged assault, Derek A. Ruth, 27, of Ruffs Dale, was charged by state police with aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual abuse of minors, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and photographing sexual acts with a minor.
Trooper Keith Sobecki reported that troopers began investigating the alleged assaults in 2018 after the girl’s mother discovered explicit messages on a computer sent via social media.
During the investigation, Sobecki said investigators obtained a search warrant and discovered Ruth had exchanged explicit photographs with the girl for several months last year.
During a recent interview with troopers, according to Sobecki, Ruth admitted meeting the girl multiple times for sex, “but didn’t take her around other people because others would know that she was much younger in age.”
During the same interview, Sobecki said Ruth admitted knowing the victim was 15 years old when the relationship began.
Ruth was ordered held in the county prison after he failed to post $50,000 bail. He faces an Aug. 8 preliminary hearing.