Six Arrests made in Reported Sexual Assault
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has made six arrests in a reported sexual assault against a 15-year-old female at an address in the Seneca area last weekend. Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Jimmy Watt gives details. “According to reports, the school resource officer at West-Oak High School received anonymous information about a party that had taken place at an address Rodgers Road in Seneca on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The incident did not occur on school grounds and was not a school sponsored event off campus. The S.R.O. received information that a student who attends a high school inside the county may have been sexually assaulted. After meeting with the victim and noticing visible injuries on the victim, the case was turned over to investigators with the Criminal Investigations Division of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. Among those arrested is 17-year-old Brandon Peralta of Seneca, who has been charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to warrants, Peralta is accused of engaging in sexual battery “using force and/or coercion to accomplish the battery, the defendant knowing or having reason to know that the victim was mentally defective, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.” Peralta was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center. Also charged in the incident is 18-year-old Tyler Joseph Normandin of Fair Play on charges of solicitation to commit a felony. According to warrants, the defendant “with the intent that another commit a crime, did entice, advises, invite, order or otherwise encourage others to commit the felony act of criminal sexual conduct upon a 15-year-old victim while said victim was mentally incapacitated or physically helpless.” Also charged are four juveniles, three who are of the age of 16 and one who is 15. Their names will not be released due to their ages. According to investigators, 2 have been charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct – third degree, 1 with Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor – 2nd degree, and one with Criminal Sexual Conduct with a minor third degree, but that juvenile will be charged as an adult.” The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing their investigation.