Pennsylvania Couple Charged After Allegedly Sexually Assaulting a 10-Year-Old Girl.

Police in Farrell, Pennsylvania have arrested a couple after, reports say, one of them sexually abused a little girl repeatedly over a period of two years.

The investigation began Dec. 16, 2024, after a referral from Mercer County Children and Youth Services. The referral stated that a man, identified as Dustin Hahne, 34, had been engaging in inappropriate acts with a young girl. Details in the referral say that Hahne had abused the girl over a period of two years in two separate homes in Sharpsville and Farrell. There were descriptions of the abuse listed as both "penetration and other forms of sexual contact."

A probable cause affidavit filed by Sharpsville police says that the girl was taken to Akron Children's Hospital, in Boardman, Ohio just miles from their home, where she provided explicit details to investigators and hospital staff. A woman, identified as Nicole Fortunato, 29, of Farrell, was also interviewed by investigators. Their reports say that Fortunato initially gave inconsistent statements. She later admitted to witnessing some of the alleged abuse but failed to report it.

Fortunato is charged with multiple counts of sexual exploitation of children, endangering the welfare of children, obstruction, and conspiracy. Hahne, faces numerous counts of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children. All of these charges are felonies and the pair are both being held on $100,000 bond each.

There is no word on Fortunato's, nor Hahne's, relationship to the young victim. The victim was taken into the custody of Children and Youth Services.