NEWPORT TWP. — A state constable has been charged with raping a young girl for years beginning when she was 5.
Ronald Ebert Jr., 52, of 52 Newport St., is accused of bribing and pressuring the girl to perform oral sex on him while he was supposed to be watching her.
According to the complaint, the victim, now 22, went to police in March to report Ebert had molested her from the age of 5 until after she turned 11.
It began when Ebert, who was staying at her home with her parents, was lying on a couch and the girl touched his penis, the charges say.
After that, Ebert brought the girl into a bathroom and directed her to perform oral sex on him, the complaint alleges.
The encounters continued happening several times a week, with Ebert convincing the girl what was happening was normal, according to police. Ebert would also give her money and use guilt to get her to comply, warning he would “get a new girlfriend to do it,” if she wouldn’t, the complaint alleges.
After the girl turned 11, Ebert tried to have intercourse with the girl but she stopped him because it hurt too badly, police said. That was the last sexual encounter between the two, the girl told police.
Investigators say they verified that Ebert used to live in the home and that the girl’s siblings recalled her and Ebert disappearing together while he was watching the children.
Police charged Ebert with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of a minor.
Magisterial District Judge David A. Barilla arraigned Ebert on the charges Wednesday afternoon and ordered him jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bail set at $50,000.
A preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 27.