Oil City Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Minor

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – An Oil City man is facing felony charges for allegedly inappropriately touching a young boy.

Franklin-based State Police filed the following charges against 22-year-old Ernest Lee Beach III:

• Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses, Felony 3
• Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
• Indecent Assault Person Less than 13 Years of Age, Misdemeanor 1

Beach was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish on March 13.

According to a criminal complaint released on March 17, the investigation was initiated on October 17, 2022, after Franklin-based State Police received a report from Venango County CYS.

On November 18, 2022, a forensic interview was conducted with the victim at the Venango County Human Services Complex.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim told investigators that “something happened” while he as staying at a relative’s house in Oil City in July 2022.

The victim said he was sleeping with Beach in a bedroom at the residence when Beach inappropriately touched his genitals, the complaint states.

The complaint notes that the victim tried to leave the bedroom at this point and Beach allegedly forced the victim to touch his genitals.

The victim was interviewed a second time on February 24, 2023, at the Venango County Courthouse and his statements were consistent with those made during the forensic interview.

Beach was placed in the Venango County Prison on March 13 after failing to post $50,000.00 cash bail.

He faces a preliminary hearing on March 22 in Venango County Central Court.

EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Extreme graphic details were not included due to the sexual nature of the alleged crimes.

EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Several details were removed from this article to help protect the identity of the victim.

Category: Local News, News