Irwin man pleads guilty to sexual assault of teen

An Irwin man was ordered to serve up to nine years in prison for the the sexual assault of a teenage girl during a July 4 party in 2020.

Chad S. Flow, 51, formerly of Hempfield, pleaded guilty Friday to felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and other related offenses in connection with allegations made by a 15-year-old girl who claimed she was assaulted during a holiday party.

The accuser told police she attended a party and accompanied Flow into woods behind his Hempfield mobile home, where he plied her with alcoholic drinks and marijuana before leading her into his trailer where he engaged in sexual acts with the teen. The girl told police, according to court records, she was intoxicated and “didn’t have the power to tell him to stop.”

Police said DNA evidence connected Flow to the sexual assault.

Flow told the judge his accuser claimed she was an adult, but conceded that under state law, that factor was not a viable defense.

Based on a recommendation from the prosecution, Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger sentenced Flow to serve three to nine years in prison and an additional three years on probation.

“The victim really thought about coming in to address the court. She is in agreement with the sentence and pleased he will be going to state prison,” said Assistant District Attorney Theresa Miller-Sporrer.

Flow earlier this week pleaded guilty in two unrelated drunk-driving cases in which he was ordered to serve up to five years in prison. Those sentences will run concurrent to the prison term imposed for the sexual assault.