Rape charge held for trial

BY STACI WILSON

Rape charges lodged against a Montrose area man were bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing Monday in Montrose District Court.

In addition to three felony rape charges, Michael G. Mead, 40, faces three counts of statutory sexual assault and multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person under the age of 16. All counts will move to the Court of Common Pleas.

At the hearing in front of District Judge Jeffrey Hollister, the victim alleged Mead had raped her on about 80 occasions in his Heart Lake home over the course of two years. She said the first assault happened in July 2009 and continued until February 2011.

On the stand, the girl said Mead sexually assaulted her about every other day in 2009 but began lessening in frequency over time. Now age 17, she testified that she was 15 years old when the first assault allegedly occurred.

She said she did not resist Mead on every occasion because she “felt too weak.”

“But I never wanted it, ever,” she said.

In addition to the vaginal rape allegations, the victim said Mead also forced her to perform other sexual acts with him.

The teen said in February 2010 she began dating someone.

Defense attorney Charles Ross Jr. asked if Mead approved of the relationship.

“Not at first,” answered the girl, “because I was his.”

Ross asked the court to dismiss the charges because the witness did not provide any exact dates or times of the assaults.

In addition to Ross, Mead is also represented by Carmen J. Latona Jr.

District Attorney Jason Legg argued that the teen’s testimony to a range of dates was sufficient to bind the case over for trial.

The charges against Mead were filed Apr. 8. He is free on $100,000 bail.