A 36-year-old Lehighton man has been committed to the Carbon County Correctional Facility, Nesquehoning, following his arraignment on charges that he sexually assaulted an underage girl with whom he had a relationship with in exchange for providing the girl drugs.

Dennis R. Kibler, of Lehighton, is charged by state trooper Ryan D. English of the Lehighton barracks, with aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lehighton, who set bail at $75,000.

In an affidavit of probable cause, the officer described information he received from a health care professional and later from the 15-year-old girl.

English said the investigation began with two reports of suspected child abuse and neglect received from the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office. He said the referral source is a medical professional from the New Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit at the St. Luke’s Hospital, Easton, who related the 15-year-old girl is known to use controlled substances.

The medical professional told police she overheard the girl telling another juvenile patient she uses methamphetamine. During that discussion, the girl told the other juvenile she “hangs out” with a 50-year-old man who gives her methamphetamine and that she has sex with the man, the affidavit states.

English said he conducted an audio-recorded interview with the girl, during which time she related on Aug. 1 she had overdosed at a residence in Bowmanstown, from a “speed ball” of heroin and methamphetamine and was transported to the St. Luke’s Hospital. The girl told police she began using methamphetamines and heroin about a year ago and that she commonly smokes and snorts the two drugs.

She disclosed she was sexually active with multiple men and has had sex with them in exchange for the drugs.

The trooper said during a follow-up interview with the girl in the presence of her father, she related to having a sexual relationship with Kibler while she was “hanging out” at a home in East Penn Township.

She described two incidents between Kibler and her where he forced her into doing things she didn’t want to do.