Grindstone man charged in sex assault
A Grindstone man is behind bars after police allege he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old Fayette County girl in Perryopolis in January.
Perryopolis police Officer Jason Hayes said Bruce Wayne Bateman Jr., 25, of 165 Hetherington Road was charged before Magisterial District Judge Dwight K. Shaner with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors.
According to Hayes, the charges were filed after officers learned that Bateman had sexual intercourse with the alleged victim in a barn in Perryopolis on Jan. 4. Police said that during the encounter, Bateman and the alleged victim engaged in sexual activities five times, including sexual intercourse on three occasions.
Bateman and the alleged victim had met prior to the incident at 4 a.m. on Jan. 1 but did not engage in sexual contact, Hayes said.
HeraldStandard.com does not identify the alleged victims of sexual assault.
Bateman was placed in Fayette County Prison on $10,000 straight cash bond following his arraignment.
He will face a preliminary hearing before Shaner at a later date.