Area man to face trial on assault charges
BULLSKIN TWP. – A Normalville man will face trial in Fayette County Court on charges he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old after she and her boyfriend sought assistance for a flat tire at a Clinton Road garage. Troy D. Laws, 39, of Cavanaugh Road listened intently as the teen recalled the early morning encounter during a Tuesday preliminary hearing before District Justice Robert Breakiron.
Laws is charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors in connection with the May 3 incident.
“Did you consent to this touching?” asked Fayette County Assistant District Attorney Denise Simon.
“No,” responded the teenager.
Under cross-examination by Fayette County Public Defender Susan Ritz-Harper, the teen said that she was left briefly with Laws while her boyfriend and two other men went in search of a replacement tire.
Another individual, Rocky Nichelson, was in the garage, but not near the area where the incident took place, the teen told Ritz-Harper.
“When he got into your personal space, did you back up? Did you yell?” asked Ritz-Harper. “After he touched you, did you yell for Rocky Nichelson?”
“I stepped back (from Laws) and got into the car,” the teen responded.
Ritz-Harper asked that the charges against Laws be dismissed, but Breakiron said that the prosecution had presented enough evidence to take the case to court and ordered Laws to stand trial on the charges.
Laws remains free after posting the $10,000 straight cash bond imposed at his arraignment hearing by District Justice Deberah Kula.