Butler County man accused of raping young girl recharged after previous case dismissed

Butler County authorities have refiled charges against a Winfield man, accused of raping a young girl, after a previous case was dismissed before trial.

Penn Township Police say Michael Garrett Saunders, 49, repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl when she was 11 and 12 years old.

Saunders was initially arrested in October by Penn Township Police before his case was dismissed without prejudice in July by Judge Joseph Kubit.

The Butler County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to TribLive requests related to the dismissal.

The refiled charges, nearly all felonies, are identical to the previous ones, including rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of a minor.

According to a criminal complaint filed against him, Saunders had sex with the victim just after her 12th birthday after previously sexually assaulting her and touching her inappropriately. The incidents are alleged to have taken place several years ago .

Saunders has a separate pending case in Butler County Court related to another alleged incident in Buffalo Township.

The criminal complaint in that case alleges Saunders climbed into bed with an underage girl in 2023 and touched her inappropriately, saying he wanted to “cuddle.” The girl left the bed and Saunders fell asleep, according to the complaint.

It’s unclear whether the two cases involve the same alleged victim. He’s charged with corruption of a minor and indecent assault of a person less than 16. That case has sat idle on the docket since February.

Saunders remains in Butler County jail, unable to post $200,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 30.

His defense attorneys, Chelsie Friend and D. Robert Marion, did not respond to TribLive requests for comment.