A Palmerton man has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a minor on Christmas Eve.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Palmerton Borough Police Department Detective Kevin Buck in the case against Eric Brown:

On March 3, Buck received notification from a Children & Youth supervisor regarding a child line in which a 17-year-old boy had made allegations of inappropriate touching against Brown, 39.

An interview was set up and conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center on March 10, and the victim went to the Children’s Advocacy Center for an audio/video recorded interview.

During that interview, along with a follow-up in person interview, the boy said that the incident began on Dec. 24 Brown gave him eggnog that had contained alcohol without his knowledge.

He said Brown assaulted him and he grabbed a nearby weapon and threatened Brown with it.

The teen said he went to his grandmother’s home in the morning and told her what occurred.

Police interviewed Brown on April 7. He denied all the allegations.

Brown said there was alcoholic eggnog at the party, but he did not drink and he denied providing it to the teen.

Brown faces charges of aggravated indecent assault without consent; aggravated indecent assault — forcible compulsion; unlawful contact with minor; corruption of minors; indecent assault without consent of other; and indecent assault forcible compulsion.

He is currently free in lieu of $75,000 unsecured bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing May 6 before District Judge William J. Kissner of Palmerton.