From Mirror staff reports

A Hyndman man is behind bars after allegedly raping a juvenile female over a period of several months, while her guardian was at work.

Anthony B. Thomas, 58, was arraigned Friday by Magisterial District Judge Tonya M. Osman on four felony counts each of statutory sexual assault – 11 years older and corruption of minors – defendant age 18 or above, as well as four misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age. Unable to post $250,000 bail, Thomas was remanded to the Bedford County Correctional Facility.

State police at Bedford received a call from a Children and Youth Services employee on New Year’s Eve regarding a 15-year-old female juvenile being seen at the Hyndman Health Clinic. The CYS employee told officers the victim said she had a sexual relationship with Thomas, who is a family friend, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In an interview with police, the victim’s guardian said the victim was feeling unwell, so she decided to take her to the health clinic. During the visit, the victim said she and Thomas had had unprotected sex. When asked if Thomas and the victim were ever alone at the residence, the guardian said the victim told her the sexual contact happened while she was at work, court documents state.

In a separate interview, the victim told officers the sexual contact began while she was still in school, but about to go on summer break. The victim said Thomas had sexual intercourse with her about five or six times, according to the police report.

At that point, police stopped the interview and had the victim go for an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Johnstown.

Officers then spoke with Thomas, who said he and the girl had sex four times over the past two months. Thomas told officers he knew what he did was wrong and he knew he was going to be arrested for it, but he wasn’t going to hide or lie about what he did, according to the report.

Thomas is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in front of Osman on Jan. 15.