From Mirror staff reports

A city man accused of assaulting a 10-year-old girl denied the charges and told police she was the one touching him.

Roy Aurthor Morrissey, 35, was arraigned Thursday night before Magisterial District Judge Andrew L. Blattenberger on felony charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors-defendant age 18 or above and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age. Unable to post $200,000 bail, he was remanded to the Blair County Prison. His preliminary hearing is set for March 22 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.

Police began investigating the case on July 11, 2021, after the girl told two family members about how Morrissey would give her piggy-back rides and touch her private area through her clothes, press himself against her when they cuddled and have her touch his privates. The incidents occurred at a home in Bellwood and later in Altoona, the report states.

According to court documents, the victim was given a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center on July 13, 2021, where she disclosed multiple times Morrissey would touch her with his fingers and touch her under her clothes.

In one instance, the victim recalled Morrissey had a cut on his arm and she hit his stitches to get away from him.

The report states that after two hours, the interview was stopped as it is the time limit for interviewing children. The interview picked up on July 15, 2021, the report states, and the victim disclosed other incidents with Morrissey.

On Aug. 26, 2021, Morrissey was interviewed at the Altoona Police Department where he denied sexually assaulting the victim and said he was actually touched by her. He claimed he would wake up to find her playing with his genitals.

Morrissey was interviewed again on Nov. 23, 2022, where he again denied assaulting the victim but he may have “dry humped” her in his sleep. He reiterated that the victim touched him, but he didn’t tell anyone.

He was interviewed on Nov. 29, 2022, and told police about injuring his arm, causing the need for stitches. He said he was sleeping when he woke up with someone touching his genitals and thought it was his girlfriend until he was hit on the arm and woke up to see the victim, who then ran from the room.

After moving to Altoona, Morrissey claimed he woke up to the victim touching him on three or four other occasions over the next year and a half, the report states, but he didn’t tell anyone. In addition, he denied touching her privates, but said he could have accidentally touched her.

Court documents state that throughout the interview, Morrissey confirmed everything the victim reported did in fact occur and charges were filed against him on Thursday.