Accused assailant waives charges
A Washington man already awaiting trial in the brutal assault of a mentally challenged woman is facing a second trial in Washington County court after waiving charges Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting two young girls.
Joseph Edwin Plovic Jr., 31, formerly of Sycamore Street, is accused of sexually assaulting the girls, who are now 7 and 11, several years ago.
Plovic allegedly assaulted the younger girl at locations in Bentleyville, Canton Township and Washington between 2009 and May. The older girl was allegedly assaulted at homes in South Franklin Township and Washington between 2005 and 2008.
City police Detective Dan Rush learned of the allegations of abuse from Washington County Children and Youth Services. He initially investigated the alleged incidents involving both girls but turned the case involving the younger girl to state Trooper Douglas Rush after it was determined the alleged incidents started outside the city’s jurisdiction.
Both girls reportedly told investigators during forensic interviews Plovic had fondled them. The oldest girl also claimed he had sex with her. Dan Rush said both girls indicated Plovic had injected them with a substance that made them feel sick and dizzy.
City police charged Plovic with two counts of rape, including one count dealing with the rape of a child, two counts of corruption of minors and one count each of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, unauthorized administration of an intoxicant and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. One count of rape was withdrawn as part of his agreement to waive the cases.
State police charged him with three counts of corruption of minors, two counts of indecent assault and one count of endangering the welfare of children.
Plovic’s defense attorney, Renee Colbert, said he strenuously objected to the charges and would plead not guilty. Assistant District Attorney Traci McDonald asked District Judge James Ellis, who presided over the hearing in Central Court, to order Plovic to have no contact with the girls or any of their family members. She noted he sent a letter to the mother of one of the girls.
Ellis denied a request by defense counsel to lower the bond in one of the cases from $50,000 to $25,000.
Plovic was already in Washington County jail awaiting trial for his alleged role in the brutal assault of a mentally challenged 23-year-old woman inside a Canton Township home earlier this year when he was arraigned on the most recent charges last month. McDonald told Ellis Plovic and his co-defendants allegedly held the woman against her will. During the April 2 incident, the woman was beaten and kicked as well as sexually assaulted, hog-tied and had cigarettes extinguished on her body. She also had her head shaved, and it appeared as if an attempt was made to cut off a tattoo.
Also facing charges in the Canton assault are Jennifer S. Conley, who was living with Plovic at the time of their arrests, and Nicole Kass and Ronald Robert Osko, who both lived at the Charles Street home where the alleged assault took place.
Colbert said Plovic claims he is innocent in that case and noted he was arrested several months after charges were initially filed against two of the suspects.
Plovic was formally arraigned on the charges in the Canton assault Monday. His bond on all charges is $250,000.