Morning Roundup: Kittanning man found guilty of sexual assault; West Mifflin man missing
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Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 4:
Kittanning man found guilty of sexual assault
A Kittanning man has been convicted of multiple sexual offenses and domestic violence crimes against three young women between the ages of 16 and 20.
A jury on Tuesday found Zachary Baum, 25, guilty after a weeklong trial in Armstrong County Court, state Attorney General Michelle Henry said. Baum was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual abuse of children, corruption of minors, indecent assault, strangulation, stalking and simple assault.
The defendant will be required to undergo a sexually violent predator evaluation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, Henry said.
Baum used social media, like Snapchat and Facebook, to find and contact the young women, Henry said.
“This defendant used social media to prey on potential victims and commit heinous sexual and physical assaults,” said Henry, in a prepared statement. “Thanks to the brave survivors who came forward, and the hard work of law enforcement and this thoughtful jury, this serial predator will be held accountable.”
The crimes took place between 2020 and 2022.
Baum will be sentenced Jan. 25, officials said. His bail was revoked and he was taken to Armstrong County Jail.
Police searching for missing West Mifflin man
West Mifflin police are seeking the public’s help finding a missing man.
Lydell Harvey, 42, was last seen Sept. 19 entering an Uber vehicle near Midway Drive in the borough, police said. He is being deemed “endangered.”
Harvey is 6-foot-1 and weighs about 200 pounds, police said. He last was seen was wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans, and was carrying a Giant Eagle bag and a bookbag.
Anyone with information is asked to call West Mifflin police at 412-461-3125. Texts and tips also can be sent to 412-589-WMPD.
No injuries reported in Turtle Creek house fire
A fire broke out inside a Turtle Creek home Wednesday morning.
Firefighters responded to the 1200 block of Maple Avenue shortly after 5 a.m., according to Tribune-Review news partner WTAE.
Nobody appeared to be injured as a result of the fire, WTAE reported. Most of the damage the fire caused seemed to isolated to the back of the house.
There was also no early word on how the fire started.