South Strabane police arrest homeless man in sex assault case
A man who South Strabane Township police said is homeless was arrested Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Fayette County boy in a motel room.
Joseph Kenneth Welty, 30, is charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, obscene contact with a minor, sharing obscene or sexual materials with a minor, furnishing alcohol to a minor, aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats.
Police were called for a report of a sexual assault. The boy, accompanied by his father, reportedly were chasing the suspect, later identified as Welty, on foot. When police arrived, all three were present.
Welty told police that the alleged victim told him he was 18. Welty was taken to the police station, where he reportedly signed a form waiving his Miranda rights. He allegedly told police that four times in the last several months, he and the alleged victim got a room at Motel 6. Welty reportedly gave the teen beer and then had sexual relations with him.
Police said Welty had a cellphone and showed them photographs and text messages that he reportedly exchanged with the alleged victim.
The 15-year-old told police that he knew Welty. He said he had been with Welty at the motel, where he was given beer and then sexually assaulted. Motel records show that Welty rented a room five times, three times in February and twice more in April.
Police said while he was being processed at the police station, Welty became agitated. He reportedly urinated on the floor, threw toilet paper onto the floor and kicked and punched the cell. He was taken to Washington Hospital for evaluation. While in the emergency room, he allegedly threatened to kill two township police officers. He also allegedly spat on, kicked at and tried to bite the officers and hospital employees who were trying to treat him.
Police said Welty reportedly had been living in a wooded area off East Beau Street.
Welty was arraigned before District Judge Ethan Ward and placed in Washington County Jail on $100,000 bond. He is scheduled for a May 4 preliminary hearing before District Judge Jay Weller.