MARS, Pa. -- A Mars, Butler County, counselor at a home for troubled youths is charged with raping a girl who lived there.

Jason Hall, 28, of New Castle, had been working at the Mars Home for Youth for only a couple months when he was arrested.

Police and state investigators are still trying to sort out exactly how something like this could have happened.

A police report said Hall started flirting with a teenage girl at the home, writing her notes. Then, one night, according to the report, Hall woke her up and said, "This is the time we have together. Let's have sex."

The report said Hall led the girl into the staff bathroom and closed the door before he began kissing and touching her.

According to the report, the girl told him, "I can't do this. This is wrong," to which he replied, "It's fine. It's fine. Nobody will know." The girl apparently told him that she wanted to go to sleep, but said Hall got mad and followed her into her room and pushed her onto the bed and raped her.

The victim said Hall raped her the following night and then sexually assaulted her several times that same week.

There is some question about whether administrators were slow to call authorities after finding out about the incidents. The Adams Township police chief said it took several weeks for administrators at the Mars Home for Youth to call his department after they found out about the alleged rape.

"The Adams Township police was notified, and we've been cooperating with all parties throughout this continued investigation," said Shellyn Shoenthal of the home.

Shoenthal said she doesn’t know why police are saying it took several weeks for them to report the incidents.

"I don't know. The only thing I can speak to is Mars Home for Youth acted immediately," she said.

In an inspection last year, the state found an employee at the home took unauthorized photos of children and sent them to another employee. Also, a child was forced to sleep on concrete and then was refused medical treatment. And employee criminal record checks were late.

Hall, who has since been fired from the home, did pass his criminal background check.

Two employees who were supposed to supervise Hall have been suspended.

He faces multiple charges of rape, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

The Department of Public Welfare is investigating the incident, as well as allegations that staff members brought marijuana into the youth home.

---

Related Links:
More County News
Get RSS Headlines | Free Desktop Alert

---