LIMESTONE TWP., Pa. (EYT) — A Strattanville man has been charged with inappropriately touching a minor female.
According to court documents, 33-year-old Mark Allen Bell, of Strattanville, was arraigned at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, November 20, in District Judge Jeffrey Miller’s office on the following charges:
– Corruption Of Minors, Felony 3
– Indecent Assault, Misdemeanor 1
– Indecent Assault — Person Less Than 16, Misdemeanor 2
Bell’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5, in Judge Miller’s office.
He is free on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
According to a criminal complaint, Clarion-based State Trooper Rodney Hotchkiss was informed that a female victim reported that Mark Bell touched her inappropriately and made her watch a pornographic video with him on April 27 at a residence on Smith Road in Limestone Township.
With assistance from Clarion County Children and Youth Services, Trooper Hotchkiss interviewed the victim on May 1. She stated that on April 27, 2017, while at Bell’s residence, she was preparing to take a shower and removed her shirt, leaving her bra and shorts on, the complaint states.
The victim said Bell opened the bathroom door and asked her to hurry up. She said he closed the door, then reopened it and told her that she owed him. The victim informed Trooper Hotchkiss that Bell said this because he had bought her a pair of thong underwear and his fiancee found out and he got in trouble, the complaint indicates.
The victim said Bell told her for him getting in trouble, she had to watch a porn video with him for five minutes while he pleasured himself, according to the complaint.
The victim said he then locked the bedroom door and played a porn video on his cell phone while exposing himself to her, the complaint continues.
The victim then told Trooper Hotchkiss that she asked Bell if she could leave, and he told her she could if she allowed him to touch her breasts, which he then did, according to the complaint.
Trooper Hotchkiss then interviewed Bell about the incident. Bell said he did watch a porn video in his room and the female victim did use the bathroom, but he denied having any interaction with the victim, the complaint states.
Bell’s cell phone was seized and consent was given to conduct a search of the contents of the phone by the PSP Computer Crime Lab. Results of the search revealed text messages sent to and received from the victim on April 28. The messages contained language that indicated inappropriate behavior by Bell to the victim on April 27, the complaint indicates.
