Man strangles and sexually abuses minors

Muncy Creek Township, Pennsylvania – A man played spin the bottle with minors and later strangled and kissed one of them, according to a complaint filed by Pennsylvania State Police.

Austin Tyler McKeon, 20, of Hughesville, allegedly said he “didn’t mind” when the minors told him their age. On May 21, McKeon gave the minors alcohol and used the empty bottle to start the game of spin the bottle, according to Trooper Josiah Reiner.

In late May, just days later, McKeon dropped the victim and her friend off at Sheetz’s, Reiner said. While he was loading up his vehicle, McKeon put a movie on in the car. He allegedly sat in the passenger seat and forced the victim to sit on his lap, Reiner wrote.

McKeon put his hands in the victim’s waistband while she was sitting next to him, the report said. He allegedly tried to touch her genitals, but she moved forward in the seat to stop him. The victim fast-forwarded the movie so it would end faster, Reiner said. McKeon took the victim and her friend home after the incident.

Reiner said witnesses told police they saw McKeon touching the victim in the car. Surveillance video from the Sheetz parking lot shows McKeon getting into the passenger seat in front of the victim, Reiner said. The victim then got in and closed the car door.

In another incident on May 24, McKeon took the minors to a movie at the Great Escape Theater in Muncy, Reiner said. McKeon told the group he wanted to speak to the victim alone, Reiner wrote in the affidavit.

McKeon allegedly grabbed the victim “by the throat and constricted her airway,” pulled her toward him and kissed her on the lips, the charges say. Then he and the victim went to the movie theater. The victim repeatedly asked to leave, but McKeon said he had already paid for her ticket and got her to stay to watch the movie, Reiner wrote.

According to Reiner, the victim managed to persuade a friend they had passed in the foyer of the cinema to drive home with them.

McKeon is charged with strangulation, sexual assault of a person under 16, enticement of a minor, sale of alcohol to a minor, unlawful contact with a minor and attempted aggravated sexual assault of a minor. Judge Kirsten Gardner set bail at $50,000 at the arraignment.

McKeon is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing this week.

Routing sheet

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