Police have charged a New Kensington man in connection with the sexual assault of a teenager.
Devanier Amier Morris, 21, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age, photographing or filming a sex act involving a child, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.
Charges were filed by New Kensington police and Westmoreland County detectives.
Authorities said they received two ChildLine reports regarding the same alleged victim, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. The first report was received last May, regarding a possible sexual assault, but police said the victim was uncooperative.
A second ChildLine report regarding the victim was received in October, according to the complaint.
That time, police say, the alleged victim told detectives they had met Morris over Snapchat. The victim told police they initially lied about their age to Morris, claiming to be 17. The victim later admitted to being only 13, police were told.
Even when Morris knew the victim was 13, police say, the inappropriate behavior continued. At one point, Morris pressured the victim to drink alcohol and forced them to have sex while allegedly threatening them with a gun, according to the complaint.
The victim’s phone had several videos of Morris and the victim having sex as well as pictures of the victim, police said.
Morris was arraigned before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. and sent to the Westmoreland County jail after failing to post $100,000 bond.
A preliminary hearing for Morris is scheduled Jan. 22.
