A 19-year-old Tamaqua man facing rape and sexual assault charges waived his right to a preliminary hearing before District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer on Sept. 18.

Corey Barnes, 19, of Tamaqua was charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, sexual assault, aggravated indecent sexual assault of a child, indecent assault of a person younger than 13, indecent exposure and corruption of minors by Tamaqua Police Chief Henry Woods.

The charges stem from a March 24 incident in the defendant’s home. The victim is a 10-year-old girl.

The investigation began when Barnes reported having sex with the girl to Tamaqua Area High School Principal Thomas McCabe on April 11. McCabe immediately notified Tamaqua Police.

Woods, who was the department’s criminal investigator at the time, spoke with Barnes and his mother later that morning, reading Barnes his Miranda Rights.

The defendant then confirmed what he told the principal earlier that morning. One Saturday morning he invited the victim, who he had met a few weeks earlier, to his home to play video games. She and one of her friends agreed. At one point, Barnes told the friend to leave, then sat on the couch next to the victim while they played video games. He then suggested, multiple times, that she should have sex with him. After some time, the girl gave in and they engaged in multiple sex acts.

After speaking with the victim and her mother, Woods determined the acts took place on March 24.

Barnes, who has been diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger’s disease, was released on $100,000 unsecured bail.