CLARION BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion man is behind bars after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old runaway from McKean County.

The following charges were filed August 23 against 19-year-old Daniel Paul Dean Jr.:

• Statutory Sexual Assault: 4-8 Years Older, Felony 2 (2 counts)
• Corruption Of Minors — Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
• Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Years Age, Misdemeanor 2 (2 counts)

The investigation was initiated on August 22 after Clarion Borough Police received information from Clarion-based State Police about a 14-year-old female runaway from Smethport, Pa., who was believed to be in the company of Dean.

A criminal complaint filed by Clarion Borough Police Department Officer William R. Sheckler, Sr., indicates that police unsuccessfully attempted to locate Dean at his 187 Wilson Avenue residence on two occasions.

Following further investigation, it was determined that Dean and the victim were at an apartment located at 427 Grand Avenue.

Officer Sheckler arrived at the apartment and took the victim into protective custody by placing her in his patrol car.

“I returned to Dean and told him he wasn’t too bright,” said Sheckler in the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint states that Dean told Officer Sheckler that he believed the girl was 16-years-old.

The victim was transported to the Clarion Borough police station where she was interviewed by Clarion County CYS.

Following a brief discussion, she was taken to the Clarion Hospital ER for evaluation.

While at the hospital, Officer Sheckler asked the victim if she had sexual contact with Dean.

She initially denied having sexual relations with Dean but later admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with him twice in an upstairs bedroom of the Grand Avenue apartment.

Medical personnel subsequently performed a rape kit on the victim.

The criminal complaint states that various articles of clothing were logged into evidence.

Additional evidence — including two pairs of shorts and multiple bedding items — were later seized at the Grand Avenue apartment.

In the early morning hours of August 23, Dean was interviewed by Clarion Borough Police Chief William V. Peck, IV, at the police station.

Dean signed a consent form and agreed to submit to a DNA test. A DNA test was then conducted and logged into evidence.

The criminal complaint states that Dean told Chief Peck that he met the victim through a mutual friend during the Summer of 2016. The two had been dating for approximately two months prior to August 23, according to Dean.

According to the criminal complaint, Dean and a friend drove to Smethport and picked the victim up at a local library on August 21.

Dean said he spoke to the victim’s mother via telephone on August 21 around 10:30 p.m.

The victim’s mother told Dean that she had reported her daughter missing. Dean also said that the mother told him that “her daughter was only 14-years-old.”

Dean stated that the victim told him she was 17-years-old.

Additionally, a resident of the Grand Avenue apartment told Clarion Borough Police Justin O’Neil that Dean and the victim allegedly stayed in the upstairs bedroom while they were at the residence.

Dean was placed in the Clarion County Jail after failing to post $200,000.00 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on August 29 with Magisterial District Judge Duane L. Quinn presiding.