SECOND MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILD - Preliminary Hearings Friday For Rose And Verbus

(10/22/2003)
State Police brought charges yesterday before Calhoun magistrate Teresa Robinson against 19-year-old Brandon Rose of Mt. Zion for sexually abusing a seven-year-old male.

The charges come following the arrest of a Pine Creek man, Matthew Verbus, 32, who was arrested and charged last week with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of first-degree sexual abuse for fondling and having sexual relations with a seven-year-old male.

The magistrate court said police have declined to say if the victim was one in the same.

A family source said Verbus and Rose were friends, and frequently spent time together at a dwelling occupied by the Rose family at Mt. Zion.

Both men will appear before magistrate Teresa Robinson Friday for preliminary hearings. Verbus' hearing was continued yesterday after he failed to hire an attorney.

Sgt. D. H. Campbell told the court both men have given audio confessions, after a family member complained about the activity.

Rose has no wife or children and lives with his aunt and uncle. Verbus is also unmarried and lives with his mother.

Both are in Central regional Jail.

Verbus must post a $20,000 bond and Rose a $5,000 to be released.