Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
The defendant allegedly groped, bit and kissed two underage employees.
A Franconia Township teenager had all 13 charges lodged against him – including two felony counts each of corruption of minors and contact with a minor-sexual offenses – held for Montgomery County Common Pleas court after a preliminary hearing Wednesday, related to incidents where he allegedly kissed, bit and groped two minors at their place of employment in Lower Salford Township.
Edvin Chavez-Rodriguez, 19, of the 700 block of Lower Road, faces additional charges of five misdemeanor counts of indecent assault without consent, and two misdemeanor counts each of indecent assault on a person under 16, attempted simple assault, and harassment, according to court records.
On Sept. 15 and Sept. 17, police received reports from two juvenile victims regarding harassment and assault from their manager, identified as Chavez-Rodriguez, that occurred between April and September, per the affidavit.
Police said both victims were 15 years old at the time of the alleged assaults and Chavez-Rodriguez was aware of their ages. Chavez-Rodriguez was also alone with the victims during the alleged encounters. The victims, police said, would either block doorways from closing with their feet or call for another employee when near the defendant.
Both victims reported unwanted biting, touching and kissing from Chavez-Rodriguez, per the complaint.
In both incidents, the victims had to tell Chavez-Rodriguez repeatedly to stop and had to push him away from them, police allege. In one alleged assault, the victim pulled away from Chavez-Rodriguez so hard that she fell on the ground, dragging herself away from him until he stopped pursuing her, police said.
Chavez-Rodriguez is free on 10% of $25,000 cash bail. A formal arraignment is set for Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m., per court records.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
