Ex-Police Officer Accused Of Exchanging Sexual Favors With Teen Appears In Court
UNIONTOWN (KDKA) -- A former police officer in Fayette County appeared in court Friday on charges he exchanged sexual favors with a teenager for not filing drug charges against her.
Ryan Reese walked out of his preliminary hearing after his alleged victim testified that the former Connellsville Police officer accepted sexual favors from her from in October 2013 to June 2014.
She was just 15 at the time it all allegedly started, and is 17-years-old now.
"It basically involves him having inappropriate contact with a minor for what she believed was in exchange for not filing criminal charges against her, or leniency with criminal charges that had been filed against her with drug charges," said Trooper Stefani Lucas, of Pennsylvania State Police.
On the stand today, the victim spoke extensively about her drug problem and how it wasn't a secret to the accused.
"He knew I was an addict," she said on the stand.
The girl also testified she and Reese allegedly had sex several times, including inside his squad car, in Reese's personal vehicle, as well as the garage of the Connellsville Police Department.
Taking the stand for the prosecution, State Trooper Cpl. James Aughinbaugh was asked about what Reese said during his testimony in front of the grand jury.
Prosecutors: "Did Reese make admissions of sexual contact with the victim?"
Auginbaugh: "He admitted to the evening in the Suburban having sex with the victim."
Reese didn't know that particular night that he was being tailed by state police investigators after the victim's mother came forward with concerns about Reese's contact with the teen.
They followed him after the encounter.
Auginbaugh said they "observed [Reese] driving through the streets, discarding the white tee-shirt in a trash can."
Investigators recovered the tee-shirt and processed it for DNA evidence.
Several of the charges Reese was facing were dismissed. However, he is being held for trial on charges of corrupting the morals of a minor and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
He is free on $10,000 bond.
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