An Altoona man has admitted to sexually molesting a mentally challenged girl, according to police.
Robert D. Riley Jr, 39, of 107 First Ave. faces 32 felony counts and eight misdemeanor counts stemming from the alleged abuse of the 15-year-old girl between July and early December, court records show.
The abuse came to light earlier this week when the girl, accompanied by a family member, spoke with police and told an Altoona police officer Riley attempted to have sex with her several times over the past five months. According to police, the girl is of diminished mental capacity and was unable to tell police how many times Riley abused her.
Riley spoke with police Tuesday and admitted to "committing several sexual acts" with the girl, police contend in the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case. Police said Riley said he knew it was wrong and "just wanted to get it behind him."
Riley also agreed to give an Altoona police detective a recorded statement where he allegedly detailed the abuse that included oral sex and fondling, police said. Riley told police he did attempt to have sex with the girl. Riley allegedly told police the abuse began in July and ended in the early weeks of December. He also admitted he knew her age and knew she was mentally challenged, police noted.
Riley allegedly admitted to at least eight encounters with the girl, according to police.
Police said Riley told police he committed the sexual assaults at his home while his wife was at work or out picking up their children. Police said Riley lured the girl to his basement or attic where he assaulted the girl, who told police she was scared to tell anyone of the abuse.
Riley was arraigned Wednesday on eight counts each rape of a mentally disabled person, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person with a disability, aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old. When the allegations surfaced Tuesday, Riley's wife sought a protection-from-abuse order against her husband, police said.
Riley is jailed on $200,000 cash bail with a preliminary hearing slated for Wednesday at Central Court.
