Carrier counselor charged with assaulting child

Man allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female patient.

By: Paul Sisolak
   MONTGOMERY — A youth counselor at the East Mountain Youth Lodge of the Carrier Clinic on Route 601 was charged Tuesday with aggravated sexual assault, according to police.
   Tysean Spence, 28, of Bethlehem, Pa., was charged with aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated sexual contact for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old female patient of the clinic.
   Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said his office received information last Friday from the Division of Youth and Family Services that the patient reported to clinic staff she was assaulted by Mr. Spence at least twice between May 1 and June 31.
   Township police and members of the county Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit were notified. They visited the site Monday, spoke with the girl and arrested Mr. Spence the next day, officials said.
   The East Mountain Youth Lodge, a residential treatment facility for adolescents, is a subsidiary of the clinic.
   Mr. Spence was taken to the Somerset County Jail. His bail was set at $50,000, Mr. Forrest said.