A Lehighton man faces over a dozen charges after allegedly engaging in explicit behavior with a child.

Donald H. Ellis Jr., 59, faces four felony counts each of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and corruption of minors, as well as four misdemeanor counts each of indecent assault without consent of others and indecent assault forcible compulsion.

According to an affidavit filed by Lehighton police, on May 22 officers received a Pennsylvania ChildLine report of an incident assault in the borough. The report stated that a 7-year-old girl told a classmate that Ellis had kissed her on the lips as well as other places, and promised that when she was older, he would leave his wife so they could be together.

An investigative team, comprised of Lehighton police, the Carbon County District Attorney’s Office and Carbon County Children and Youth Services Agency was formed to investigate the report.

A caseworker met with the girl, who told her about the inappropriate kisses, as well as Ellis chewing his food and then putting it in her mouth.

On June 11, a forensic interview was scheduled at the Scranton Children’s Advocacy Center with the girl, as well as her 10-year-old sister.

During that interview, the 7-year-old said that Ellis told her to keep this a secret from her grandmother. She added that he regularly kissed her in various areas between January and May when they were alone in the living room. The child also reported that during that time, Ellis touched her multiple times.

The girl also contacted Ellis through her iPad and they would send heart emojis to each other, and added that she is in love with Ellis and he said he was in love with her and that when she was 13, they could live together as a couple.

The girl’s mother provided police with the iPad used to communicate with family. Several messages between Ellis and the girl were found, confirming the girl’s story.

A second interview with the girl’s sister, the 10-year-old reported that while she was watching television at Ellis’s house sometime this spring, he placed his hand on her buttocks and then touched her inappropriately.

Attempts to speak with Ellis regarding the matter were unsuccessful; however, due to the two reports, charges were filed.

Ellis was arraigned before District Judge Joseph Homanko on Aug. 22 and faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Eric Scrantz on Sept. 24.

He is free after posting $250,000 monetary bail.