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Cambria prison inmate accused of sexual assault

EBENSBURG — A Cambria County Prison inmate faces numerous charges for the alleged violent sexual assault of another inmate.

Edward L. Merritt, 35, is accused of forcing another man to perform a sex act while they were in the same cell at Cambria County Prison in May 2016.

The alleged victim contacted authorities in May 2016 to report that he had been sexually assaulted, according to a criminal complaint filed by a member of the Cambria County Detective Bureau.

The complaint, filed Tuesday, recounts the alleged victim’s report, in which the man told authorities that Merritt pushed him to the ground.

While the inmate was on the ground, Merritt used his fingers to force the man’s mouth opened, according to the complaint.

“The victim tried to scream, but Merritt stopped this by covering the victim’s mouth,” the complaint reads.

Merritt then allegedly forced the other man to perform a sex act, according to the complaint, which noted that the assault took place for more than “several minutes.”

After the assault, Merritt threatened the other inmate, the complaint reads.

“Merritt next told the victim that it would be worse if he said anything to anyone about what happened,” according to the complaint.

Online court documents show that Merritt faces a felony charge of aggravated harassment by a prisoner. He also faces three misdemeanor charges of indecent assault, as well as a charge of making terroristic threats.

Online court records show that Merritt has a history of criminal charges — some drug- and firearms-related — in Cambria County dating back to 2012.

In 2015, Merritt was charged with criminal homicide in Johnstown, though court records show that the charges were later withdrawn.

On Wednesday afternoon, the current case against Merritt was listed as inactive.

Mirror Staff Writer Sean Sauro is at 946-7535.

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