Man accused of preying on teen found competent for trial
MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> A Bloomsburg man facing rape and related charges for allegedly kidnapping a 14-year-old Delaware County girl and sexually assaulting her last year has been deemed competent to stand trial, according to Assistant District Attorney Alan Borowsky.
David Dewald, 40, is also charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving a person less than 16 years of age, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, kidnapping of a minor, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault involving a person less than 16 years of age for the April 29, 2016, incident.
The girl told authorities she began speaking with Dewald through an instant messaging application called KIK, according to an affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Dewald allegedly coerced the girl into meeting him, then drove her to his in Bloomsburg.
Dewald allegedly exposed himself in the vehicle and forced the teen to perform sex acts, which continued at his apartment. Authorities believe he may have had control over the girl for up to nine hours while her parents thought she was with a friend.
After dropping the teen back in Delaware County, Dewald allegedly threatened the girl not to say anything.
The girl continued to speak with Dewald through a free-calling application, but told authorities she was in fear for her safety. When he ordered her to meet him after school May 11, she informed school authorities who contacted law enforcement.
Detective Kenneth Bellis, a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, recorded a telephone conversation between the teen and Dewald that day, in which the defendant acknowledged their age difference and his fear of being caught by police, according to the affidavit. apartment
Dewald became angry when the teen asked him during that conversation what they were going to do and “told the victim that she knew what she was going to do,” the affidavit states. He was taken into custody after arriving at a pre-arranged meeting place in Delaware County.
Borowsky noted at a status hearing Wednesday that Media psychologist Dr. Marc Gramatges was initially unable to determine whether Dewald was competent to stand trial, but found that he is competent after listening to recordings of phone calls the defendant had made from the prison.
Dewald seemed lucid and competent Wednesday as he described various motions he wanted to file and discovery that he claimed was still owed him. He also moved to fire his privately hired defense attorney John Hickey and seek other counsel.
Dewald is also charged with sexual exploitation of children and coercion in federal court, as well as statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years old, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault against a person less than 16 years old, and corruption of minors in Columbia County.
Hickey said the commonwealth had offered to withdraw its charges if Dewald waived a speedy trial requirement and pleads in the federal case, but Dewald has refused the offer.
Hickey added that he had received “voluminous” discovery from the commonwealth, which he forwarded to Dewald. A motion seeking additional discovery was put on hold while Dewald’s competency was determined, according to Hickey.
Dewald said he is next scheduled to appear in federal court May 12. Jury selection in that case is scheduled for August 7. He also has a preliminary hearing in Columbia County May 9.
Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge Kevin F. Kelly scheduled the next hearing in the Delaware County matter for May 30, when Dewald is expected to return with his new counsel.