Belle Vernon man sentenced in sexual assault case
A Belle Vernon man who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a girl over a six-year period is going to state prison.
Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo on Tuesday sentenced Richard Michael Meglaye, 36, to six to 20 years in jail. Meglaye in September pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault.
In addition to jail time, Meglaye is to have no contact with the victim or her immediate family members, complete perpetrator counseling and submit to a mental health and drug and alcohol evaluation and complete the recommended treatment, according to Costanzo’s sentencing order, which was filed Thursday.
Court paperwork indicates Meglaye is classified as a Tier III Megan’s Law offender, the most serious classification, meaning he will be required to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.
Investigators previously said the incidents occurred at a home in North Strabane Township and at locations in Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland counties.
The victim was about 11 when the sexual assaults began in 2008. The assaults continued through July 2014, when the girl’s mother went to the North Strabane police station to report the incidents. The girl no longer lives in the area.
The girl gave police and forensic investigators specific details about the sex acts and her contact with Meglaye. She said Meglaye knew her parents.
The inappropriate contact began when Meglaye took the girl to a secluded area in a public park and began kissing and fondling her, police said. Meglaye began having sex with the girl after she turned 13, supplying her with alcohol and marijuana prior to engaging in sex.
The girl told police Meglaye told her not to tell anyone what happened because he did not want to go to jail and lose his children.
Charges of indecent assault of a person younger than 13, indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person younger than 16, intimidation of a witness and corruption of minors were dropped as part of Meglaye’s plea agreement.