By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff Writer
A Meadville man accused of having inappropriate contact with a female juvenile last month was held for court Wednesday.
Decoda Hawk, 18, appeared before District Judge Matthew Kirtland for the preliminary hearing in Venango County Central Court.
Kirtland ruled that enough evidence was presented to bind all charges over to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.
Hawk is facing a second-degree felony count of aggravated indecent assault — complainant less than age 16, a third-degree felony count of corruption of minors and a second-degree misdemeanor of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.
A criminal complaint filed through Kirtland’s office said Sugarcreek Borough police Officer Joseph Highfield was dispatched to a residence in the 300 block of Wiley Avenue in Franklin on March 31 at about 5 p.m. after receiving a report of a social female.
Highfield learned from the girl’s stepfather that she was making threats against her own life because she had just been caught engaging in sexual acts with an 18-year-old man upstairs, the complaint said.
The girl told Highfield that the man she was with was Hawk, but denied engaging in intercourse with him, the complaint said. The girl later said Hawk had touched her inappropriately and had removed his pants, the complaint said.
Highfield eventually asked the girl’s brother to try to get in contact with Hawk via text message to find his location, the complaint said.
The girl’s brother learned that Hawk was on his way to a business in Franklin before heading back to Meadville, the complaint said.
Highfield entered the business and took Hawk into custody, the complaint said.
Hawk told Highfield that he was adjusting his pants and the whole incident was “blown out of proportion,” the complaint said.
Hawk remains free on $75,000 unsecured bail, but his nonmonetary conditions were modified Wednesday.
