A 23-year-old man accused of initiating an illicit relationship two years ago with a 13-year-old girl he met while working at the Kennett Area YMCA waived his preliminary hearing on Tuesday, March 10.
With more than half a dozen supporters in the courtroom, Tyrone A. Rochester, a 2009 graduate of Kennett High and former football star, appeared before Magisterial District Judge Daniel J. Maisano. Rochester agreed that the prosecution did not have to present testimony and that the case would advance to county court.
In exchange for the waiver, Assistant District Attorney Megan L. King withdrew two solicitation charges and downgraded an unlawful contact with a minor felony-one charge to a felony-three offense, which carries a lesser penalty under sentencing guidelines. Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said that decision was made after consulting with the victim's family.
The remaining charges - unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor, unlawful use of a communications facility, and drug offenses – match the alleged conduct better, Hogan said.
Defense attorney Michael D. DiCindio declined to comment.
Rochester, a Kennett Square resident, was arrested on Feb. 24 and immediately suspended without pay from his job as a part-time YMCA program instructor. YMCA officials said they were fully cooperating with investigators and had no knowledge of any inappropriate behavior during Rochester’s two years as a Y employee.
According to the criminal complaint, Rochester established a relationship with the victim, who is now 15, primarily using Facebook to send sexually suggestive messages from November 2012 through September 2013. During that time, he offered to pay the girl $100 to undress and asked what she would do for $200, the complaint said. It also listed instances in which he sold her $20 worth of marijuana, the complaint said.
Rochester remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail. His formal arraignment is scheduled for April 2 at the Chester County Justice Center.
State police from the Avondale barracks said the investigation is continuing.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...
Comments