A Virginia man was arrested Thursday on charges that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl in State College in 2022.
Lester L. Turner III, now 23, is accused of assaulting the girl in the backseat of a car.
Borough police began the investigation in August 2023, when the girl disclosed to a State College Area High School administrator that she had been assaulted by Turner in January 2022, according to an affidavit of probable cause. She was 14 years old at the time of the alleged assault.
The girl said during an interview at the Centre County Children’s Advocacy Center that she and Turner, who was 18 at the time, traveled to the rear parking lot of Wendy’s on University Drive, where he asked her to get into the backseat, police wrote.
Turner kissed her and removed her clothes despite her telling him “no,” then held her down and assaulted her, according to the affidavit. The girl said that she repeatedly told Turner “no” and “stop,” but that he ignored her, police wrote.
Police reviewed a conversation through the girl’s TikTok account in which Turner admitted to having sexual relations with her, according to the affidavit.
Turner is charged with felony counts of sexual assault and statutory sexual assault.
He was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Don Hahn, who set bail at 5% of $200,000. Turner is currently confined at the Centre County Correctional Facility.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.
