From staff reports
An Erie man is facing charges for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl at a residence in Victory Township.
Polk Borough police said in a criminal complaint they received a tip in July from Venango County Children and Youth Services that Mark Blakeney, 53, had been sexually abusing the girl for several years.
Blakeney began a relationship with the hearing impaired girl when she was 11 because he was her sign language interpreter, the complaint said.
In June 2021, Blakeney began to spend more time with the girl and helped her in every-day activities and developed friendships with her family, according to the complaint.
While living there, Blakeney slept in the living room, directly beside the girl’s bedroom, the complaint said.
The girl said she and Blakeney had sex in a car and that he had also gotten in bed with her and inappropriately touched her, the complaint said. The girl also noted other sexual misconduct by Blakeney toward her that the complaint details.
Blakeney has been charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault-11 years older, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse person less than 16, and unlawful contact with a minor-sexual offences.
He was arraigned Tuesday and placed in the Venango County jail after being unable to post bail, and her preliminary hearing is scheduled Oct. 11 in Central Court.
