A Tiona man has been held for court on charges that he repeatedly raped a boy over a period of years.

Kelly E. Patz, 48, of Route 6, Tiona, turned himself in back in July a week after a criminal complaint was filed.

He was charged with two counts of rape — person less than 13 years of age; four counts of statutory sexual assault; four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse — person less than 13 years of age; two counts of sexual assault; three counts of indecent assault — person less than 13 years of age; corruption of minors; endangering the welfare of children; illegal contact with a minor — sexual offenses; and two counts of aggravated indecent assault — person less than 13 years of age.

Last week, he was held for court as the result of a preliminary hearing.

During that hearing, two counts of indecent assault person less than 13 years of age were dismissed.

In the affidavit of probable cause, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General said Patz hired the boy and others in 2000 to do some work on the patio at his Third Avenue home in the City of Warren.

After a month of that work, Patz asked the boy to help him sell novelty items at local flea markets, according to the affidavit. The work required early morning departures and overnight stays.

According to investigators, the victim said he would wake up to Patz crawling into bed with him or would wake up and he would already be there.

“While in this position, the defendant would attempt to reach inside of victim’s clothing” and assault him, according to the affidavit. When the boy initially resisted, Patz offered him $100, which he would tuck inside of the victim’s clothing.

The victim “stated his family was poor and he succumbed to the offer of money” and allowed Patz to assault him numerous times at several locations in Warren County — the Third Avenue residence, a campground in Warren, and at fairs or flea markets in Tidioute, Warren, Russell, and Clarendon, according to the affidavit.

Even when the victim’s family moved several states away, the alleged abuse continued, according to the affidavit, with Patz visiting the family while he was a truck driver.

The family moved back to Warren when the victim was under the age of 16, according to the affidavit, and still the alleged assaults continued.

“The defendant would often supply victim with alcohol and or marijuana before the defendant carried out the acts,” police said. While the victim would drink and or smoke, “there was never a time victim stated he was not conscious or aware of the defendant’s actions.”

“Victim stated that after the defendant was completed with the assault, victim would continue to consume the alcohol in an attempt to deal with the emotional effects of being assaulted,” according to the affidavit.

Online court records show that his next court proceeding is formal arraignment before Judge Gregory Hammond on September 19.