Clearfield Co., PA (WJAC) — Authorities in Clearfield County have filed over 100 counts of various felonies against a DuBois area man following an investigation into accusations that he repeatedly sexually abused a teenage girl for over a year.
DuBois police say they began investigating 39-year-old Sean Lechiara in May after the girl came forward to report the abuse while she was at school.
Police say the girl told officers that Lechiara had reportedly began assaulting her when she was 12 years old, and claimed that the repeated abuse lasted for approximately a year and a half.
According to the affidavit, authorities say the alleged abuse all occurred at a home in DuBois but in various areas of the residence, the victim told officers.
Police say the victim recalled several incidents in which Lechiara allegedly forced her to use a sex toy and would even show her pornographic videos.
Authorities say, according to the victim, the alleged assaults reportedly became more frequent during the summer of 2022 and stated that Lechiara would often "force himself" upon her.
Police say the girl also claimed that she suffered a "self-diagnosed" UTI (urinary tract infection) from one of the alleged assaults.
Authorities say in May, the girl stated that she began leaving small "post-it notes" in her room, disclosing the abuse, in hopes that her mother would find them.
Police say the victim told officers that she also disclosed the assaults to a friend.
During the course of the investigation, police say they reportedly discovered several sexually explicit photos of the victim, on Lechiara's phone.
Police say the girl reportedly admitted to taking said photos but claimed that she never sent the photos to Lechiara.
Authorities concluded that, according to the victim's statements, Lechiara had reportedly sent the photos to himself after taking the girl's phone as a punishment.
Police noted that, according to the girl, losing her phone was a frequent form of discipline.
According to online court documents, Lechiara was arraigned Thursday on 148 counts of various charges, including rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, statutory sexual assault and invasion of privacy.
He is being held at the Clearfield County Jail on $250,000 bail.
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