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Teens testify in pot, sex case

Holpit also offered marijuana for nude photos, witnesses say

Holpit

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Some teenagers shed tears while others showed little emotion Thursday in Blair County Court where they spoke of interacting with a Tyrone man accused of providing them with marijuana while soliciting sex acts and nude photos.

Eleven teenagers — 10 females and one male — testified about their individual encounters with Paul Robert Holpit, 24, Tyrone, who remains in the county prison, charged with several felony counts including solicitation of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, solicitation of child pornography, attempted sexual exploitation of children, unlawful contact with a minor, sex trafficking of children, possession with intent to deliver and related offenses.

Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller, who listened to Thursday’s testimony during a preliminary hearing convened at the courthouse, found sufficient evidence to support 88 alleged offenses that will be forwarded to the county court for further review.

Chief Public Defender Russ Montgomery, who repeatedly asked the teenage witnesses if they initiated contact with Holpit or if Holpit contacted them, said after the court hearing that he didn’t know if that question will factor into his client’s defense.

“I’m not sure at this point,” Montgomery said. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

District Attorney Pete Weeks and First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith called upon the teenagers to testify in support of the charges filed by Tyrone police, represented in court by Detective Chad Weaver.

Weaver, during the hearing, testified about a search of Holpit’s West 14th Street residence where officers seized marijuana and collected computer equipment with evidence of sexually explicit photos and videos.

The teenage witnesses, who live in or near Tyrone, said they reached out to Holpit — via Snapchat or via a friend — after learning that Holpit was selling marijuana.

Most of the teenage witnesses said they initially met Holpit in the summer of 2021 and through early 2022. They spoke of communicating with him online, then of meeting him at various locations in Tyrone where they initially paid $10 to $20 for 1 to 2 grams of marijuana, before learning how they could get additional amounts for free.

The female teenage witnesses also accused Holpit of sending nude pictures of himself, of asking them to send nude pictures of themselves and of asking them to engage in sexual activities.

The male teenage witness said he regularly bought marijuana from Holpit and knew that Holpit was regularly asking a female teenager to perform sexual acts in exchange for marijuana.

One of the female teenage witnesses, now 15 years old, said she was 13 going on 14 when she bought marijuana from Holpit, who asked her to engage in a sex act.

“I told him I was 13 and he said he preferred younger girls,” she testified.

The witness said she didn’t engage in sex acts with Holpit and never sent him any nude photos of herself.

“He said if I did the things he asked, then I could have free weed,” she testified.

A 17-year-old witness said she sent nude photos of herself to Holpit — because he asked her to. She also said that in October 2021, she engaged in oral sex with Holpit in his vehicle — and that he gave her marijuana.

“He told me he was 18,” the witness said during cross examination, before leaving the witness box in tears.

Another witness, now 17, said Holpit offered her more marijuana if she would engage in a sex act with him. She said it occurred in his car and that in return, she got 3.5 grams of marijuana.

Another witness, now 16 years old, said she was 15 when she accompanied a friend who was meeting Holpit near the Tyrone Moose Lodge to buy marijuana.

The witness said that Holpit, upon meeting her, offered her alcohol, marijuana and money if she would engage in oral sex with him. The witness said she responded by telling Holpit she was 15 years old.

“He said he didn’t care. Who needs to know?” she testified as she recalled Holpit’s response.

A now 16-year-old witness testified that Holpit repeatedly asked her for nude photos. She said she sent him one photo in which her face wasn’t visible.

She said Holpit gave her 4 grams of marijuana afterward and the requests continued.

“He kept asking me for more nude photos,” the teenager testified.

A nearly 18-year-old witness admitted to sending photos of herself to Holpit who had threatened to harm himself if she didn’t.

“He was always texting me for nudes,” she said.

Smith also pointed out to Miller that all of the victims were minors at the time of the alleged crimes.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.

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