A Warren man who faces multiple child rape charges — and endangerment in connection with a drowning death — has been held for court on rape charges that date back as far as 1986.

Richard D. Barrett, 54, 3435 Conewango Ave., was held for court after a preliminary hearing held Tuesday before District Judge Laura Bauer.

Back in December, he was charged with raping a child and, three months before that, charged with felony endangerment in connection with the drowning death of a 2-year-old child in Hatch Run earlier in the year.

The allegations at the center of Tuesday’s hearing date to a report City of Warren police received on Dec. 16, 2020.

City of Warren police Detective Anthony Chimenti testified that the victim reported abuse “as far back as she can remember” from the ages of five or six until she was 14.

That means these allegations date to between 1986 and 1992.

Chimenti said the victim reported the abuse at the age of 40 and that it allegedly occurred at Barrett’s apartment and along the trail adjacent to the Conewango Creek at Beaty Park.

Barrett “was a friend of the family’s,” Chimenti said. He testified that the abuse continued after both families moved to Florida where it was subsequently reported and Barrett was convicted on a count of sexual battery.

He said Barrett declined to be interviewed by police regarding these allegations.

The victim testified that Barrett used to babysit her and knew him “as long as I have memories.”

“He used to molest me,” she testified. “(He) would tell me this is just what you do (and that) this is essentially love.”

She said Barrett assaulted her “every time I was over there” and told her she didn’t need to tell and she

wouldn’t get in trouble. She testified her mother was “tough” and “he knew that.”

“This haunts me,” she said, testifying she can still remember how he smelled. “I can’t get rid of that.”

“He made sure no one was there when it happened,” she added.

Bauer ruled that there was “sufficient evidence” to bound the case over to the Court of Common Pleas.

Online court records indicate he faces two charges at this docket — rape — forcible compulsion and corruption of minors.

Those records also note he is out of jail on $100,000 bond.