Trucker accused of having sex with 12-year-old jailed without bond

YOUNGSTOWN

A truck driver has been bound over to a federal grand jury and has consented to his being held without bond pending further court action on a charge that he took a 12-year-old girl out of state with intent to engage in sexual activity with her.

Iraephraim X. Underwood, 58, of Youngstown, was bound over after waiving a Friday detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate George J. Limbert.

Underwood, who was arrested Tuesday, faces 10 years to life in prison if he’s convicted.

His defense lawyer, Joseph W. Gardner, declined to comment after court on why his client waived the hearing.

The girl told FBI Agent Bonnie Hartmann that she went on about 25 trips with Underwood in his semi tractor, with Underwood engaging in sexual activity with her on at least 15 of those trips, according to an affidavit Hartmann filed with the court.

The sexual activity occurred in the tractor’s sleeper berth in Pennsylvania and Michigan between June 2013 and August 2014, the girl told the FBI agent Jan. 23.

Read more of the allegations in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.