Rape charge dropped in case involving girl
A rape charge was dropped Thursday against a Butler man, who along with his estranged wife is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.
But the two still face charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, sexual abuse of children, corruption of minors and furnishing alcohol to minors and other charges.
Brian Christopher Rensel, 27, of Fourth Avenue, Butler, and Tracy Ann Rensel, 28, of Keck Road, Summit, are accused of giving the girl alcohol and over-the-counter caffeine pills, forcing her to perform sex acts with them and prompting the girl to dance naked in front of a Web camera that broadcast the images over the Internet via an instant messaging program.
The Rensels waived their preliminary hearings yesterday before Butler Township District Justice Kevin O'Donnell.
O'Donnell reduced the bond on Tracy Rensel from $200,000 to $100,000, but he refused to reduce Brian Rensel's bond, set at $50,000.
Police said Tracy Rensel's bond was set higher than Brian Rensel's bond because she was believed to be a greater flight risk.
Butler County Assistant District Attorney Christine Studeny said she withdrew the rape charge after speaking with the 14-year-old.
"Based upon the evidence, we thought it was appropriate," Studeny said.
Bernard Tully, Brian Rensel's attorney, said he was glad the rape charge was dropped.
"Any time you can get a rape charge withdrawn, you go with it," he said.
Studeny said, however, the case against the Rensels is substantial.
"We've had more witnesses that have come forward since the arrest that could testify as to the conduct that was taking place in that house," Studeny said in court.
Studeny said the maximum sentence each could face is 25 years in prison.
The Rensels will be arraigned on July 7 in the Butler County Common Pleas Court.
According to a criminal complaint filed by police, the couple -- on various occasions from January 2002 to September 2002 -- gave the girl alcohol and caffeine pills and forced her to perform sex acts.
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review does not identify victims of alleged sexual abuse.
The girl told police she met the Rensels in January 2002, regularly visited them at their Fourth Avenue home and frequently stayed overnight.
During some visits, the girl told police, she was forced to have intercourse and oral sex with the couple, and she sometimes danced naked before the Web camera, according to the affidavit.
Images of the couple and the girl engaged in sex acts were found on computers seized by police, according to the affidavit.
