Man charged in teen rape

BY STACI WILSON

Rape charges have been lodged against a Montrose area man after he allegedly assaulted a 14-year-old girl on March 4 and 10.

Michael Holmes, 41, Montrose, was arraigned Saturday by District Judge Suzanne Brainard. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

Holmes was charged by Tpr. Mark Keyes with two counts each of rape- forcible compulsion; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16; statutory sexual assault; aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors.

According to the criminal complaint, an adult walked in on the March 10 assault in Jessup Twp.

The alleged victim was taken to Endless Mountains Health Systems, Montrose, where she was interviewed by police. The teen also said she had been assaulted by Holmes the week prior on March 4 inForestLakeTwp.

The Susquehanna County Independent does not identify the victims of alleged sexual assault.

According to the affidavit, the victim told police Holmes had scared her into having sex with him.

She also told police Holmes asked her age several times then later commented he had “just molested a 14-year-old,” according to police.

The victim also told police she did not verbally tell Holmes to stop because he had been drinking and she was scared but said she tried to resist and bit him in an attempt to make him stop.

On March 10, according to the affidavit, Holmes was more aggressive in his assault, pulling her hair and pushing her down.

When the adult witness walked in, Holmes was told to leave the premises and made the excuse he was drunk, according to the affidavit.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 19.