Pa. man goes to trial in case of 15-year-old 'fiancee'

BEAVER, Pa. (AP) — A 55-year-old western Pennsylvania trucker has been ordered to stand trial on charges he had sex with a girl who testified she was just 15 when she became his fiancee’.

A judge refused to lower the bond for Donald Starkey, of Chippewa Township, despite a request from his defense attorney. As such, Starkey remained in the Beaver County Jail today, a day after the alleged victim testified about statutory sexual assault and other charges.

The Beaver County Times reports the girl testified she met Starkey through a former friend when she was 14 and that their relationship became sexual a year later, when he gave her a diamond ring and proposed marriage.

Police learned of the relationship in May when Starkey allegedly sought health insurance coverage for his 16-year-old fiancee. She has since turned 17.