The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

September 11, 2012

Prior offender raped boy multiple times, police say

By Courtney L. Saylor Herald Staff Writer

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP — A Pymatuning Township man is accused of raping a now 5-year-old boy several times since 2009 at a Delaware Township home.

Jonathan M. Root, 27, of 402 E. Crestview Drive, Transfer, was arraigned Monday on 18 felony charges and taken to Mercer County Jail after failing to post $100,000 bond.

Root sexually assaulted the boy from the time he was age 3 until July at a home on Line Road in Delaware Township while the boy’s mother was at work, state police said in court documents.

The boy’s father reported the abuse to state police July 27, the same day the boy told him about what had happened.

The boy told his father that Root said if the boy told anyone he “would keep doing” it.

On Aug. 28, the boy was interviewed by a social worker and detailed the alleged rape and molestation. The boy also said Root had shown him pictures of penises on his cell phone.

A medical examination showed a healed anal fissure that could be seen as consistent with the report of abuse, court documents said.

State police interviewed Root on Sept. 4 and Root initially denied having any sexual contact with the boy but then admitted to it happening one time about two months ago.

Root is charged with aggravated indecent assault of someone under the age of 13, disseminating photos of child sex acts, four counts each of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 13, indecent assault of someone under the age of 13 and corruption of minors.

A preliminary hearing was set for next week before District Judge Lorinda L. Hinch, Mercer.

It’s not the first time Root’s been charged with assaulting a minor.

In 2004, Pymatuning Township police charged Root with false imprisonment, indecent exposure and two counts of indecent assault on someone under the age of 16 after he and a 13-year-old boy allegedly locked two 13-year-old girls in a shed and fondled them.

Root pleaded guilty by no contest to one count of indecent assault and the other charges were withdrawn. He was sentenced to six months to one year in jail.

At the same time he was sentenced in that case, Root was given 50 days to 11 months for obstructing the administration of law.

He had also faced charges of escape, conspiracy to escape and inmates procuring a weapon, which were filed by the Mercer County Sheriff’s office. It’s not clear from court documents or Herald files what led to those charges.

Judge Christopher J. St. John sentenced Root on Jan. 28, 2005, in both cases and gave him credit for 230 days already served and released him on parole.

In July 2005 a bench warrant was issued for Root because he failed to comply with the terms of his release, according to court records. A mental health evaluation was ordered in August 2005 after Root was picked up on the warrant.

Court records show he absconded parole again in 2007 and as of August 2011 was nearly two years behind on court cost payments.

 

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