Mt. Pleasant man on trial for rape of child

Testimony started Tuesday in the trial of a Mt. Pleasant man charged with the rape of a teenager and sexual assault of another child.

Westmoreland County prosecutors claim Kenneth R. Daniels II, 42, had improper sexual contact with two females from 2014 to 2017. Daniels was charged with 11 counts, including rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault.

According to court records, police said a girl told investigators Daniels repeatedly threatened her after the assaults, “saying he would make her life a living hell and miserable” if she told anyone.

The now 21-year-old woman testified during the first day in the trial before Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears that Daniels sexually assaulted her at least 60 times starting when she was 13.

“There was no saying ‘no’ or hiding,” she testified.

A second child claimed Daniels improperly touched her in a sexual manner.

Daniels has maintained the allegations against him are false.

In his opening statement to the jury, defense attorney Ken Noga questioned the veracity the allegations made by the accusers.

“This case is going to take a tremendous amount of courage. You will have to decide if these two young ladies” are truthful, Noga said.

The trial will continue on Wednesday.