TUSCOLA COUNTY, Mich. – A man lied about his age to stay at a teen’s parent’s house in Cass City, where he then sexually assaulted a girl and her sister, according to Michigan State Police.
Police said Ethan R. Dekalita befriended a 14-year-old girl through Snapchat and decided he should visit her for a day. He allegedly told the victim’s family he’s also 14 years old.
Recommended Videos
At the end of the day, while visiting the victim, Dekalita reportedly asked the girl’s parents if he could stay the night due to a family emergency. The victim’s mother couldn’t get ahold of Dekalita’s family, and after several days, the parents called 911 for help, saying something wasn’t right about Dekalita.
As police further investigated, they learned Dekalita was actually 19 years old and allegedly convinced the 14-year-old to let him visit and then stay. During the time Dekalita stayed at the victim’s home, he allegedly sexually assaulted the girl and her 12-year-old sister.
Dekalita was arraigned on Sept. 11 and was charged with three counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct in the Second Degree, Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes, and Assault and Battery.
Michigan State Police encourages parents to monitor their children’s social media activity on a regular basis and speak to their children about the safe use of the internet.
