Man Accused of Having Sexual Relationship with 15-year-old Emlenton Girl

| June 28, 2017

crime photoSCRUBGRASS TOWNSHIP, Pa. – A Hilliards man is behind bars on charges related to an alleged sexual relationship with a 15-year-old Emlenton girl in 2014.

According to court documents, 42-year-old Louis James Saluga III, of Hilliards, Pa., was charged with the following offenses on June 26, 2017:

  • Statutory Sexual Assualt: 8 – 11 Years Older, Felony 2
  • Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person Less Than 16 Years of Age, Felony 1
  • Indecent Assault Person Less Than 16 Years of Age, Misdemeanor 2
  • Indecent Assault Forcible Compulsion, Misdemeanor 1

A criminal complaint filed by Franklin-based State Police Tpr. O’Toole indicates that Saluga, who was 39-years-old at the time, is accused of having sex with the victim multiple times between May 29, 2014, and June 24, 2014.

Saluga Interviewed by State Police in 2014

During an interview at the Franklin State Police barracks on June 25, 2014, Saluga told police that he decided to stop at the victim’s Emlenton-area house after he noticed her father’s car was not in the driveway.

Saluga stated that he spent time with the victim in her bedroom, according to the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint states that Saluga told police the victim kissed him “a few times.” When asked to be more specific about the number of times the kissing occurred, he stated that it happened on 5 to 10 occasions.

Saluga told police that he “did not kiss the victim back.”

Victim Interviewed in 2016

The criminal complaint states that the victim was interviewed at the Venango County Courthouse on January 28, 2016.

During the interview, the victim stated that she and Saluga had vaginal sex 6 to 7 times and she performed oral sex on him approximately seven times.

She said the two had sex for the first time on May 29, 2016, in her bedroom at her house.

“She remembers this date because it was the first time she ever had sex,” said Tpr. O’Toole in the document.

The victim indicated that the sexual acts were not forced; however, she said that she felt pressured to have sex, according to the criminal complaint.

Saluga told the victim that “he was fixed” and therefore did not wear not wear a condom, according to the victim’s statement.

The criminal complaint states that the victim also told police “she now knows what Saluga did was wrong.”

Saluga Jailed After DNA Comparisons

The criminal complaint indicates blankets from the victim’s bed and multiple clothing items belonging to the girl were sent to a Pennsylvania State Police laboratory in Erie for testing.

On June 29, 2016, the results of the tests revealed that seminal fluid was found on the blank and other clothing items.

A search warrant was then issued for the collection of Saluga’s DNA.

On April 6, 2017, a report documenting the DNA comparisons was obtained from the PA State Police Bureau of Forensic Services.

The report revealed that Saluga’s DNA matched the ‘Y’ chromosome haplotype found on the blanket and a pair of underwear belonging to the victim.

A warrant was subsequently issued for Saluga’s arrest.

He was taken into custody and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey on June 27, 2017, at 3:30 p.m.

Saluga was placed in the Venango County Jail after failing to post $50,000 cash bail.

He faces a preliminary hearing on July 5, 2017, at 3:30 p.m. with District Judge Patrick Lowrey presiding.


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