Centre County man charged with rape, accused of abusing teen for more than two years

A Centre County man was charged with rape and other sexually violent crimes Wednesday after a teenage girl told investigators she had been sexually abused, according to photographs and videos.

Victor N. Acevedo-Gerena, 36, of Ferguson Township, was accused of raping the child beginning in September 2021, a township police detective wrote in a probable cause affidavit. The allegations were reported to police earlier this month.

The 11-page indictment lists allegations of rape, oral sex, digital penetration and groping. Acevedo-Gerena was also accused of sending sexually explicit videos of herself to the girl.

The attacks, according to police, were carried out with threats and promises of money. The girl told investigators that he had recorded and photographed the attacks.

A township police officer discovered 275 text messages between Acevedo-Gerena and the girl. They agreed that he “solicited and coerced the girl to perform sexual acts,” police wrote.

Acevedo-Gerena told investigators during an interview earlier this month that he “messed up” but denied having sex with the girl. He said he had more than a dozen “sexual encounters” with the girl, police wrote.

No defense attorney was listed. A message left Thursday for Assistant Centre County Public Defender Ellie Vanier, who is representing Acevedo-Gerena in an ongoing robbery case, was not immediately returned.

Acevedo-Gerena was charged with 48 crimes, including rape, involuntary sexual intercourse, aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault of a minor, photographing children engaging in sexual acts and wiretapping telephone conversations. He was also charged with sexual assault.

He was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Allen Sinclair, who denied bail. Acevedo-Gerena is being held at the Centre County Correctional Facility.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 3.