FRACKVILLE — A West Mahanoy Township man charged with raping a teenage girl earlier this year waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Michael S. Catherman, 56, of 42 S. Wylam St., was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale but instead chose to have the charges against him heard in Schuylkill County Court.
Catherman is charged with one felony count each of rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, corruption of minors and another related sexual offense; two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault; and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.
The charges were filed by state police Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station who took Catherman into custody on April 26.
The trooper charged Catherman for alleged incidents that occurred at various times prior to and on April 21, 22 and the date of his arrest.
Lizewski said the crimes came to light on April 26 when the 13-year-old and her father came to the state police station and reported that at numerous times and locations Catherman subjected the girl to sexual acts.
In one incident, Lizewski said, the girl reported she was sleeping at a home in Pine Grove when Catherman touched her indecently and instructed her not to tell anyone, calling it their “secret.”
Additional sexual acts involving Catherman and the girl occurred on April 21, 22 and 26 at a home in West Mahanoy Township, Lizewski said.
He said that on April 21 and again on April 22 Catherman had sexual intercourse with his teenage victim.
Then, on April 26, the girl reported Catherman asked her to perform a lewd act and, when she refused, he again fondled her and forced her to have intercourse, Lizewski said.
Lizewski said Catherman was taken into custody at his home later that day and returned to the state police station where he admitted to having sexual contact with the teenager. Catherman also said that another sexual act occurred on April 25 but that had not been reported to authorities, the trooper reported.
After waiving his right to a hearing Catherman was returned to Schuylkill County Prison where he is being held on $100,000 straight cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, at the time of his arraignment.