LOCKPORT – A Lockport man, accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl and hiding her in a closet as police looked for her, was arraigned on a 23-count indictment Tuesday in Niagara County Court.
Jarad R. Matsulavage, 19, of Robinson Road, pleaded not guilty to assorted counts of second-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape, second-degree criminal sexual act and disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth R. Donatello said the girl was found in the closet at about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 11, as police searched the apartment for about an hour in response to a tip that the girl, who had been reported as a missing person, might be there. Donatello said the girl was not forced to hide and the kidnapping charge, like the rape charge, stems only from her age.
The indecent material charge covers alleged text messages from Matsulavage to the girl, Donatello said. Matsulavage is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Jarad R. Matsulavage, 19, of Robinson Road, pleaded not guilty to assorted counts of second-degree kidnapping, second-degree rape, second-degree criminal sexual act and disseminating indecent material to a minor.
Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth R. Donatello said the girl was found in the closet at about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 11, as police searched the apartment for about an hour in response to a tip that the girl, who had been reported as a missing person, might be there. Donatello said the girl was not forced to hide and the kidnapping charge, like the rape charge, stems only from her age.
The indecent material charge covers alleged text messages from Matsulavage to the girl, Donatello said. Matsulavage is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.