A 57-year-old Scranton man sexually assaulted a young girl for five years and threatened to kill her family if she reported the abuse, police said.
During a forensic interview Wednesday at the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA in Scranton, the victim, now 13, said Eliceo Ortega-Davila started abusing her when she was 8 years old and last assaulted her approximately a month ago, according to a criminal complaint.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
During the forensic interview, the victim stated the abuse began with inappropriate touching and advanced to sexual intercourse, police said.
Additionally, the victim — who became visibly upset when recounting the details of the assaults — told the forensic interviewer that she feared for her life and the well-being of her family members as a result of continued threats made by Ortega-Davila, according to the criminal complaint.
Officers noted the victim kept the abuse a secret throughout the years due to her concerns about the severity of the threats.
Police charged Ortega-Davila with rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, terroristic threats and rape by threat of forcible compulsion.
As of Monday, Ortega-Davila remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 22 at 9:45 a.m.