DURHAM — A New Hampshire man has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving a child, authorities said Monday.
The Newport Police Department launched an investigation on Jan. 23 after receiving a report of a sexual assault of a child by an adult male.
The suspect, identified as 19-year-old Evan Pitt of Durham, is accused of traveling to Newport to meet the child following communication over social media.
The alleged assault occurred while parked at a local trailhead.
During their inquiry, Newport Police conducted witness interviews, examined security camera footage, collected physical and medical forensic evidence, as well as digital forensic data.
These efforts led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Pitt.
Pitt was apprehended by Durham Police on Jan. 28 and subsequently handed over to Newport authorities.
His charges include aggravated felonious sexual assault with superior physical strength, coercion or threat, kidnapping, felonious sexual assault due to an age difference of four years or more, and certain prohibited computer uses.
Under the recently enacted bail statute, Pitt was ineligible for bail and was detained at the Sullivan County House of Corrections.
He is scheduled for arraignment in the 5th Circuit Court – District Division – Newport on Jan. 29.
The Newport Police Department collaborated with the Durham Police Department, the Child Advocacy Center of Grafton and Sullivan Counties, Dartmouth Health, the Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center, and the Lincoln Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Cyber Forensics Laboratory in this investigation.
As the investigation continues, additional charges may be considered when the case is presented to the Sullivan County Superior Court grand jury.
Detective Sergeant Alexander Marvin has urged anyone with information related to the investigation to come forward.