PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man has been accused of indecent assault and related offenses stemming from an incident that occurred at his residence.
According to court documents, Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 48-year-old Andrew D. Craft, of Punxsutawney.
According to a criminal complaint, around 9:00 p.m. on May 14, 911 dispatched Officer Winfield, of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department, to McDonald’s to speak to a known individual in reference to a text message that he received.
The complaint states that a known individual showed Officer Winfield a text message that stated, “This is an emergency text message….Andy is drunk and trying to sexually touch me. This is why I don’t stay at Andy’s. I’m locked in his bathroom scared….”
Officer Winfield went to Craft’s apartment at 212 West Mahoning Street and spoke to the victim. She said that “Andy gave her something to drink, and they were in his room. She stated Andy touched her and grabbed her breast and wouldn’t stop when she told him to….,” the complaint continues.
Officer Winfield questioned Andrew Craft who “had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person.” It was learned that Andrew was on probation. At that time, Andrew was placed under arrest for indecent assault and furnishing alcohol to a minor. He was transported to the station and placed in a holding cell, the complaint indicates.
Once at the station, Officer Winfield spoke to the victim in more detail. She said “she went over to Andy’s to hang out….He went to the store and later Andy gave her a drink of orange juice. She said after she drank it, she felt weird. She thought that Andy put Vodka in the orange juice. She said they were in his bedroom, and Andy got on top of her and started kissing her….She told him to stop…and he continued making other sexual advances. At that point, she pushed him off and went to the bathroom, and that is when she sent text messages to her friends for help,” according to the complaint.
The victim was given a PBT (Preliminary Breath Test), and it tested positive for alcohol, the complaint states.
Craft was arraigned at 10:45 a.m. on May 16 in front of Magisterial District Judge Douglas Robert Chambers.
- Indecent Assault-W/O Consent Of Other, Misdemeanor 2
- Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion, Misdemeanor 1
- Sell/Furnish Liquor Etc Minor, Misdemeanor 3
Unable to post $40,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on May 26 with Judge Chambers presiding.
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