Plum man to face trial for sexual assault of 14-year-old girl

A Plum man will face trial on charges of sexually assaulting one of two girls he took to his home after encountering them outside a borough bar in June.

John Dale Vorous, 61, was shackled and wearing prison garb when he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Michael J. Doyle.

His attorney, Paul Zavarella, declined to comment on Vorous’ behalf.

Plum police charged Vorous in August with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault.

Vorous admitted to taking two girls, ages 14 and 15, to his Francis Road home after encountering them outside Center Tavern close to midnight on June 22, police said in a criminal complaint.

He admitted giving both girls marijuana and having sex with the 14-year-old, the complaint states.

The girls spent the night at Vorous’ house, and he took them to a bus stop the next morning, according to police.

Vorous is scheduled for formal arraignment in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on Dec. 5.

Vorous’ preliminary hearing in Plum was delayed after he was arrested Sept. 1 by state police in Venango County. He had been released on a nonmonetary bond after the sexual assault arrest.

In Venango County, Vorous is facing trial on charges including DUI, fleeing, resisting arrest and drug and traffic offenses after state police said he fled when an trooper pulled him over shortly after 2 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.

Vorous crashed his car as he fled from the stop, the complaint states. Vorous appeared to be highly intoxicated and ignored an officer’s commands. He got out of his car and walked toward the officer, telling him repeatedly to shoot him, the complaint states.

The officer, who reported taking Vorous to the ground as he struggled to handcuff him, suffered a knee injury, the complaint states. Vorous was found to be carrying marijuana and paraphernalia, police said.

Vorous was denied bond in that case because he was considered a flight risk, according to court records. He was expected to be returned to the Venango jail after his hearing in Allegheny County, a Venango jail representative said.