By PATRICK BUCHNOWSKI
SALISBURY — State police in Somerset have charged an Elk Lick Township man in connection with gruesome sex attacks on an infant and a dog.
Troopers said Rodney Lee Thomas, 38, of Salisbury, had sex with a
9-month-old girl in Elk Lick Township at least three times from Feb. 7 to March 16.
Troopers said Thomas also had “sexual encounters” with a “pet dog, Rocky, which led to the dog’s death.”
No additional details were given.
Thomas was charged with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, simple assault and making terroristic threats.
He also was was charged with three counts of sexual intercourse with an animal.
Thomas, of Ash Hill Road, was arraigned Wednesday by on-call District Judge Sandra Stevanus of Confluence and sent to the Somerset County Jail after failing to post $100,000 bond.
State police began an investigation Tuesday after being contacted by Somerset County Children and Youth Services.
Thomas reportedly told authorities he has been involved in this type of activity since he was a teenager.
