Valley man awaiting trial in sex crimes faces new charges

A Monongahela man awaiting trial for a series of sex crimes against three minors spanning several years faces a new batch of charges for allegedly inappropriately touching a girl a decade ago.

James Brian Faust Jr., 53, was charged by Monongahela police on Wednesday with aggravated indecent assault – person less than 16 years of age, endangering the welfare of children – corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age stemming from an investigation into the alleged incident on June 30, 1996.

According to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday at the office of Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson, the alleged victim, who was 13 at the time, reported to police Faust touched her inappropriately at a Pittsburgh residence.

The Mon Valley Independent does not identify minors or victims of sexual assault.

Faust is also charged in cases following allegations from three minors who described repeated abuse spanning several years.

Last year, a 22-year-old woman said Faust touched her inappropriately when she was 14. The girl was 14 at the time and Faust was 45. Faust is charged with criminal attempt of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age in that case.

In another case, Monongahela police reviewed a forensic interview with a 15-yearold girl who alleged a pattern of sexual abuse by Faust spanning from 2019 to 2023. The girl told police the conduct began when she was 9 or 10 years old.

She reported to investigators that they had sexual contact on multiple occasions, including at two residences in Monongahela, a park-and-ride lot near State Route 88 and Ginger Hill Road in Finleyville, and a business parking lot along Route 88.

Faust is charged in that case with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault, two counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.

A third case involves a 14-year-old girl who told police she experienced ongoing sexual abuse by Faust over a two-year period when she was 11 or 12 years old.

Faust is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on those cases Oct. 23 in Washington County Court.

— MVI