Teen accuser described as desperate, jealous in Ruffs Dale sex assault trial

The lawyer for a Ruffs Dale man accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl told a Westmoreland County jury on Monday the allegations were brought by a desperate and jealous teenager.

Prosecutors contend Steven K. Stemmler, 39, had a sexual relationship with the teenager that started in 2021 and continued into early this year.

“She misconstrued his attention. This was a 15-year-old with a crush on an older man,” said Assistant Public Defender Jennifer DeFlitch in her opening statement to the jury. DeFlitch contended that prosecutors have no physical or other corroborating evidence of a sexual relationship. “All that exists is an allegation created by a desperate and jealous 15-year old girl,” she said.

Stemmler was charged in February with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and other offenses.

Prosecutors contend Stemmler met the girl at a campground and almost immediately cultivated a sexual relationship with the teen while also engaging in another consensual relationship with a 22-year-old woman.

Assistant District Attorney Christina Gongaware told jurors that the teen accuser and Stemmler’s girlfriend became friends. The teen later confessed the sexual affair with Stemmler to his girlfriend, who reported the allegation to police.

“He preyed on her (the teen) for months. He understood she was the perfect target,” Gongaware said.

Prior to the start of the trial prosecutors dismissed another rape charge against Stemmler. Police said Stemmler raped an unconscious woman in his camper after she consumed a large amount of vodka.

Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli declined to explain the why the rape charge was dismissed.

Testimony is expected to begin when the trial resumes Tuesday before Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani.

Stemmler, who is in jail having been unable to pay $50,000 bail, is scheduled for another trial in September to answer charges that he illegally possessed about a dozen firearms.