Soldier formerly of Sewickley Township accused of raping girl, 12

A former Sewickley Township man is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl and giving her and two other juvenile girls homemade tattoos.

Donovan G. Hess, 21, who listed his address as Fort Knox Army Base, Fort Knox, Ky., and told authorities he is enlisted in the Army, was jailed Wednesday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Hess is charged with rape, indecent assault, corruption of minors, tattooing a person under 18 years of age and providing liquor to minors. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before West Newton District Judge Charles Christner.

In an affidavit of probable cause filed before Christner, state police at Greensburg said the investigation began after the mother of one of the 12-year-old girls noticed a tattoo on her daughter's hip and called police. During interviews, the girls told police that Hess provided them with beer then gave each permanent ink tattoos.

The incidents occurred between Dec. 1 and Jan. 10 at residences in Sewickley Township. In addition to the 12-year-old girls, the incidents also involved a 14-year-old, according to state police.