CHICORA — A 20-year-old Clay Township man had a new felony charge added Tuesday related to his relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Trevor Donaldson pleaded not guilty at a preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon before District Judge Lewis Stoughton. Donaldson remains free after posting $5,000 bond with the added condition that he has no contact with his accuser.

Following testimony from Trooper Joel Miles, the investigating officer, Stoughton moved forward all charges against Donaldson, including a new one.

Assistant District Attorney David Beichner added one felony count of aggravated indecent assault to Donaldson's list of charges, which already included felony statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as misdemeanor indecent sexual assault.

Per agreement by Beichner and defense attorney Joel Hillis, the girl's testimony was not needed at Tuesday's proceeding. The girl appeared for court alongside her mother, and the pair remained outside the courtroom during the hearing.

Both sides added to the official record statements the girl made during an interview with Miles. In the interview, the girl allegedly told Miles she and Donaldson began having sex in early December, and they had done so multiple times.

In Pennsylvania, teens between the ages of 13 and 15 cannot consent to sexual activity with anyone who is four or more years older than them.

At the time of the alleged encounters, the girl would have been 15 and was already 20, which he turned in June. Even if Donaldson were 19, it would have still been considered statutory sexual assault.

According to charging documents, Donaldson was the driver in a Jan. 2 traffic stop in Potter County, when state police uncovered his relationship with the girl, who was in the passenger seat.

Miles said he said interviewed both Donaldson and the girl.

According to Miles, Donaldson told him the two had been dating for about four to five months before they started having sex.

"He said for a while, they didn't do much, just hold hands and things like that, because she was apprehensive," Miles said.

During cross-examination, Hillis asked Miles if Donaldson knew the girl's age during the interview.

"He knew exactly what her age was," Miles said. "He knew she was 15."

Hillis presented no evidence, witnesses or argument to close the hearing.

"Obviously, this is an unfortunate circumstance," said Hillis following the hearing. "Hopefully, we can work it out with the district attorney's office.'