By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
A Meadville man is facing assault charges after he allegedly had inappropriate contact with a juvenile female last week.
A criminal complaint filed through District Judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said Sugarcreek Borough police Officer Joseph Highfield was dispatched Friday at about 5 p.m. to a residence in the 300 block of Wiley Avenue in Franklin for reports of a suicidal female.
Highfield learned from the girl’s stepfather that she was making threats against her own life because she had just been caught engaging in sexual acts with an 18-year-old man upstairs, the complaint said.
The girl told Highfield that the man she was with was Decoda Hawk, but denied engaging in intercourse with him, the complaint said.
The girl later said Hawk had touched her inappropriately and had removed his pants, the complaint said.
Highfield eventually asked the girl’s brother to try to get in contact with Hawk via text message to find his location, the complaint said.
The girl’s brother learned that Hawk was on his way to a business in Franklin before heading back to Meadville, the complaint said.
Highfield entered the business and took Hawk into custody, the complaint said.
Hawk told Highfield that he was adjusting his pants and the whole incident was “blown out of proportion,” the complaint said.
Charges filed against Hawk include a second-degree felony count of aggravated indecent assault – complainant less than age 16, a third-degree felony count of corruption of minors and a second-degree misdemeanor of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.
Hawk was arraigned before Kirtland on Friday and released on $75,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing in the case has been tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Venango County Central Court.
