Latrobe man charged with sexual assault against girls aged 12 to 14
State police have charged a Latrobe man with numerous counts of rape and sexual assault for alleged crimes against four girls, ages 12 to 14.
Nicholas Cook, 20, would hang out at parks in Greensburg, Hempfield and Latrobe where he met his victims, according to court documents filed by state police. He would offer them rides, give them marijuana and invite them back to an apartment to “party,” where he would give them alcohol before assaulting them, the documents said.
The investigation began June 3 when troopers were called to Swede Hill Park in Hempfield, according to the documents filed to support charges against Cook. A 14-year-old girl was lying intoxicated in a parking lot. She was taken to Excela Westmoreland Hospital for examination.
The girl told troopers she had been at Cook's apartment, where she was given large amounts of alcohol. When Cook began to initiate sexual contact, she repeatedly told him “no,” she told police, but he raped her before dropping her off in the parking lot, according to the documents.
The girl recalled three previous occasions where Cook allegedly sexually assaulted her after giving her marijuana, MDMA or alcohol, the documents stated.
During the investigation, police found three other girls who said Cook had assaulted them.
A 13-year-old girl said she had met Cook at parks in the Latrobe area. Cook had given her and her friends a ride to Westmoreland Mall before inviting them back to an apartment in Greensburg, according to court records.
The girl told police Cook gave her a large amount of alcohol and began touching her inappropriately and performing oral sex on her before she was able to push him away, according to court documents.
Another girl, 14, said she knew Cook because he hung out at area parks. He allegedly invited her to a party at his apartment.
The court records state that at the party, the girl told Cook she did not want to drink, but he gave her a large cup of something that tasted like Fruit Loops. She told police she passed out and woke up later without her pants or underwear. She asked Cook about it, the court records stated, and he threatened to hack her computer and tell her mother if she told anyone.
A 12-year-old girl said Cook had started tickling her and touched her inappropriately while they were at a Latrobe park. On another occasion, Cook allegedly grabbed her breast after giving her and her friends a ride and some marijuana.
Cook is charged with five counts of rape, six counts of aggravated indecent assault, eight counts of indecent assault, three counts of corruption of minors and one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
He will be arraigned before District Judge James Albert. A preliminary hearing has not been set.
Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-836-6646 or jtierney@tribweb.com.
