Bridgeville Man Accused of Molesting Young Girl Heading to Trial

The Bridgeville man accused of molesting a 3-year-old girl will head to trial on all the sexual assault counts and several drug charges.

Russell K. Forrest III, 27, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors, simple assault and endangering the welfare of a child by a guardian.

Allegheny County Police detectives said he touched the young girl’s genitals, causing internal injuries and bleeding on Aug. 14.

Investigators interviewed Forrest and he gave them several accounts of why the girl was injured and why they found blood in her underwear. Police said he told them that he thought the injuries might have occurred when he wiped her too hard while drunk and high on drugs.

Police said he later told them he might have accidentally poked her with his fingers while trying to catch her when she fell from the toilet. Investigators, however, said those explanations were inconsistent with the injuries and the girl’s interview with police.

Meanwhile, Forrest also waived to court felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Bridgeville police said he had drugs inside his body when he was taken to Allegheny County Jail upon his arrest on Sept. 3.

He has remained in jail since his arrest. However, his bond was lowered from $100,000 to $50,000 cash during his hearing before District Judge Maureen McGraw-Desmet on Oct. 15.

His formal arraignment on the charges is scheduled for Dec. 6 at the Allegheny County Courthouse.

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