Trial set on sex charges
A West Pike Run Township man will stand trial for allegedly sending sexually explicit messages to three girls and having sexual relations with two of them.
Cody Anthony Messinger, 20, of 183 Sunset Drive, Daisytown, was ordered held for court in cases involving two of the girls by District Judge Curtis Thompson after preliminary hearings Monday in Central Court.
The case involving a third girl was waived to court.
Prior to the start of the hearings, Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman amended the complaints to include additional charges of indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving the two girls who allegedly had sexual contact with Messinger.
He also is charged with statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, criminal use of a communications facility and sharing obscene or sexual material.
Clingerman said the investigation began when the mother of one of the girls learned Messinger was 19 and contacted state police.
The mother believed he was younger.
Trooper Nathaniel Lieberum said he subpoenaed Facebook for Messinger’s posts, as well those of the girls. He said there is a fourth girl whom Messinger contacted, but he has not been able to identify her.
Two of the alleged victims testified Monday.
A 15-year-old girl said she had sexual intercourse with Messinger twice in summer 2014, at his home and at her home.
He also allegedly sent her sexually explicit photographs, and the two reportedly exchanged sexually explicit conversations on Facebook.
The other girl, also now 15, said the two exchanged sexually explicit messages and he touched her inappropriately last summer at a park in Monongahela.
Clingerman asked Thompson to set bond. Messinger was released on $30,000 unsecured bond after he was arraigned in all three cases in February. She noted he is being held on felony charges and said he contacted three girls about sexual activity.
Defense attorney Aaron Tomczek countered that his client has appeared for all court proceedings and that any bond would be punitive. Thompson did not change the unsecured bond on the case that was waived.
However, he set a $10,000 percentage bond on each of the two cases held for court. Messinger was placed in Washington County jail.
Thompson also ordered Messinger not have access to any communication devices, whether cellphone or computer, if he is released from jail.