OC man charged with sexual assault of minor

From staff reports

A 20-year-old Oil City man is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Knox girl in June.

Eric Glen Sharp is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years old, a first-degree felony; statutory sexual assault on a person four to eight years younger than the suspect and aggravated indecent assault on a person less than 16 years old, both second-degree felonies; indecent assault on a person less than 16 years old, a second-degree misdemeanor; and corruption of minors, a first-degree misdemeanor.

According to court documents, Knox Borough Police Chief Jason Bowen was “made aware” of an incident involving a known 15-year-old girl who had sexual relations with the 20-year-old defendant.

Bowen’s investigation found Sharp met the girl at a known location in Knox on June 23 and permitted the girl to perform a sex act on him, according to the documents.

Bowen said the investigation also led to recorded messages in which the girl informed Sharp she is 15 years old, the documents said.

Sharp was arraigned Aug. 14 by District Judge Jeff Miller and placed in the Clarion County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.