Man sentenced to house arrest for statutory sexual assault
Apr. 24—A Taylor man who admitted having a sexual relationship with a minor when he was 19 was sentenced Thursday to 11 months to just under 2 years of house arrest.
Jose Mercado-Olavarria, 21, was charged in June with statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors after a 15-year-old girl reported he physically abused and sexually assaulted her.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
According to an arrest affidavit, the girl told counselors with the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania that she began dating Mercado-Olavarria in March 2020 and thought he was younger because of his physical appearance.
In an interview with police, Mercado-Olavarria admitted he and the girl had sex multiple times during the three months they dated. He also said he and the victim exchanged explicit photographs.
Mercado-Olavarria pleaded guilty in October to statutory sexual assault. All other charges were dropped.
In addition to house arrest, Lackawanna County Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle ordered Mercado-Olavarria to serve one year probation. She also directed him to undergo a mental health evaluation, take part in a domestic violence program and seek full-time employment.
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