New Castle man charged with raping 12-year-old

Staff report

NEW CASTLE, Pa

Police say a 46-year-old man faces numerous criminal charges, including rape, in the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

New Castle police charged Samuel Edward Ross of Wampum Avenue in Ellwood City with one felony count each of rape, unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault and sexual assault, as well as one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

Ross, a registered sex offender, was charged Wednesday by police in New Castle, where they say the assaults occurred between Aug. 20 and last Friday. Ross is being held in Lawrence County jail in lieu of $75,000 bond, pending a preliminary hearing next Wednesday.