Mercer man charged with raping girl

MERCER, Pa. — Pennsylvania State Police are charging a man with raping a juvenile.

Police say Jack Richard Pennington, 41, of Orr Road, had sexual relations with a girl who was 11 or 12 at the time, state police saide.

He is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, indecent assault, indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

The crimes occurred from June through August 2002, police said.

Pennington was arraigned today before District Judge Lorinda Hinch in Mercer, and was committed to the Mercer County Jail on a $15,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set before Hinch at 9 a.m. Friday.