S.C. man in Mercer Co. Jail faces more charges

MERCER — Pennsylvania State Police said a South Carolina man in Mercer County Jail on rape charges has now been charged with trying to intimidate the 13-year-old victim of the alleged assault.

Police said James C. Burke II, 32, of Murrells Inlet, was arrested at the jail Friday on three counts of criminal solicitation and three counts of intimidation of a witness or victims. He was arraigned and returned to jail on $25,000 bond on the new charges.

Police said Burke is accused of making telephone calls from the jail between May 5 and 13 soliciting a person to contact the rape victim and encourage her to recant her story and not testify in exchange for a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle.