21-05-2025
New York man accused of messaging, wanting to impregnate Altoona teen
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A New York man is behind bars in Altoona after being accused of messaging a teen beginning when she was 12 and wanting to have a baby with her.
Jonathan Robert Burrell, now 27, of Stony Point, New York, was charged with statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and disseminating explicit sexual material with a minor after the teen and her guardian went to Altoona police earlier this year.
According to the criminal complaint, police began to investigate Burrell's alleged contact with the teen via Snapchat. Through cellphone extraction, investigators said there were numerous messages found between the two, including showing Burrell knew the girl's age.
Photos and videos were also recovered of Burrell allegedly touching himself, along with messages of his asking for nude and sexual photos. Other messages stated he wanted to impregnate her, investigators said in the affidavit of probable cause.
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When the teen spoke with detectives, she alleged that the two had been talking since she was 12 years old, but the conversations didn't get sexual until recently, after turning 14. According to the complaint, she told police Burrell was well aware of her age.
Police noted other messages from Burrell admitting that he would have to lie about his age if he came to her house for the was arraigned May 21 and placed in Blair County Prison with bail set at $50,000.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 4.
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