PUNXSUTAWNEY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man has been accused of inappropriately touching a teen and providing her with alcohol.
According to court documents, Officer Brian Andrekovich, of Punxsutawney Borough Police Department, filed a criminal complaint against 43-year-old Christopher A. Larson, of Punxsutawney.
According to a criminal complaint, on October 23, 2015, a known minor was interviewed by Western Pa. Cares for Kids. During the interview, the victim stated that “Larson had furnished her with Raspberry Smirnoff alcoholic beverages at (a residence) on the weekend of October 10 to 11, 2015. The victim stated that she became ill after drinking the Smirnoffs and could not do her homework.”
The complaint states that on October 30, 2015, Officer Andrekovich interviewed Larson at the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department. Larson stated that he did not purchase any alcoholic beverages for the victim.
Following his investigation, Officer Brian Andrekovich requested a summons be issued for Larson on the following charges:
- Sell/Furnish Liquor Etc Minor, Misdemeanor 3
- Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
- Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 2
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 6 in front of Magisterial District Judge Douglas Robert Chambers.
In a separate incident, Officer Ryan Miller of Punxsutawney Borough Police Department, filed a criminal complaint against Larson following his investigation on the following case:
On December 10, the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department received a child-line report of suspected child abuse and neglect concerning a teenage female. “It was reported that the juvenile made reference at her school, and identified Christopher Larson as providing her with alcohol and had ‘touched her’ after consuming alcohol.”
The complaint indicates that a forensic interview was conducted with the juvenile previously concerning the allegation of furnishing alcohol. “It was reported that one of the disclosures made during the interview was that Larson prohibited his girlfriend from coming to the residence on Friday evening because it was when Larson and (the juvenile) would drink together.”
On December 13, the victim provided a written statement to Detective Andrekovich concerning the incident. “She reported that around the time of the second week of school, on a Friday, she went to Larson’s residence on East Mahoning Street in Punxsutawney Borough. She said that Larson told her not to tell anyone about having alcohol. She reported that after consuming several drinks, she was ready to go to bed. She stated that she put on her pajamas and was not wearing a bra. She stated that she was lying down in bed, and Larson began rubbing her breasts underneath her shirt. She stated that the incident lasted for several minutes, she asked him to stop, and he did. She stated that Larson then left the room, and she locked the door behind him. She then stated that she asked her mother to pick her up early. She stated that she has not spoken to Larson since except for a time when she was hospitalized, and he called her stupid for being there,” according to the complaint.
On December 18, Officer Ryan Miller received information that “Larson contacted the victim via cell phone concerning the allegation of furnishing alcohol and that she came to the police station with her grandmother.” She reported that Larson “contacted her and told her to the effect that he could not believe that she would tell on him about giving her alcohol…that he knows where she is living and that he was going to kill her,” the complaint continues.
The victim indicated that it was not the first time (Larson) touched her inappropriately. In a written statement, “the victim reported that over the summer, she went camping with Larson in the Glen Campbell area, and after swimming she went to her tent and was eating chips and drinking Smirnoff Ice. She said that Larson rubbed both of her breasts with both of his hands. She reported that she was still in her bathing suit at the time. She also reported another incident which she stated occurred on Johnsonburg Road in Rossiter and that Larson again touched her breasts over the top of her shirt,” the complaint states.
Subsequently, Larson was arraigned at 10:35 p.m. on December 19 in front of Judge Chambers.
He faces the following charges:
- Indecent Assault-W/O Consent Of Other, Misdemeanor 2
- Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion, Misdemeanor 1
- Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Yrs Age, Misdemeanor 2
- Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
- Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Misdemeanor 1
Unable to post $75,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 5 with Judge Chambers presiding.
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