Brayden S. Edwards

A volunteer for a Karns City Area School District spring extracurricular activity is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl after threatening to have her removed from the activity.

Brayden S. Edwards, 22, of Fairview Township, twice sexually assaulted the teen, once on March 3, 2023, and again on March 4, 2023, according to charges filed Thursday, Jan. 11.

Edwards was charged with felonies involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors, and misdemeanor indecent assault after state police received two ChildLine reports in August.

Edwards was arrested and placed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $125,000 on Thursday, Jan. 11. His preliminary hearing before District Judge Lewis Stoughton is scheduled Jan. 23.

According to Eric Ritzert, school district superintendent, Edwards is not a current volunteer and has not been a volunteer since last year.

Edwards was a “limited volunteer,” according to Ritzert, and underwent child abuse and criminal background checks as required by the state.

According to charging documents, the alleged incidents of sexual assault occurred when Edwards was a volunteer assisting with equipment at the after-school activity.

Edwards, who was 21 years old at the time of the alleged assaults, is accused of kissing the teen on March 3 and pressuring the teen to have sex with him and perform a sexual act on March 4.

The girl was interviewed Sept. 13 at the county Children’s Advocacy Center about the incidents.

The girl disclosed that on March 3 she and Edwards went to a restaurant in Butler. She added that Edwards drank “a lot” of beers, and afterward took her to his vehicle to use a nicotine vape pen.

Edwards allegedly threatened to advise the activity adviser to remove the girl if she “didn't do what he wanted her to do.”

Edwards is then accused of kissing the girl while inside the vehicle in the restaurant parking lot.

The following day, police said Edwards picked the girl up from her residence and then parked at the bottom of her driveway.

Police said the girl disclosed Edwards kissed her, threatened her again, and then pressured her to perform various sexual acts on him while in the vehicle.

According to documents, investigators interviewed Edwards on Oct. 5 at the Butler barracks. Police said he admitted to the March 3 allegations and portions of the March 4 allegations.