SHENANDOAH — A man was jailed Tuesday, charged by state police at Frackville with having sex with a 15-year-old girl.
Charles A. Welna, 30, of 602 Gold Star Highway, Mahanoy Township, was arrested by Trooper Alan Zulick and charged with one felony count each of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and child pornography-sexual abuse of children, along with a misdemeanor offense of indecent assault.
Welna was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 straight cash bail.
Zulick charged Welna in connection with alleged incidents that occurred at his home between July 1 and Tuesday when they came to light.
Zulick said he received a report of a missing 15-year-old girl and during the investigation came across a letter to the girl from Welna in which he wrote about a sexual relationship with her.
On Tuesday morning, Zulick said, he and Trooper Joseph Hall found the girl in the bedroom of the Welna home and took her back to her residence.
“The teen was interviewed and said she performed sex acts and had intercourse with Welna numerous times in July and over the weekend of Aug. 19 to 21 and that the sex occurred in Welna’s home,” Zulick said. The girl also said that she had sent Welna numerous pornographic images of herself to Welna by electronic means, Zulick said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Zulick said he and Trooper Michael Marinchak interviewed Welna and after being read his rights, the man admitted having sex with the girl numerous times and that he believed she was 17-years-old.
Welna also admitted receiving pictures of the teen in various stages of undress and a video of her performing a sex act, Zulick said.
Welna will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom.