Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Sexual Assault Of Girl,11

A Pittsburgh man recently pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl, an admission which means he will be sentenced to 20 years in state prison, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Robert Clayton, 36, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the first degree offense. He is facing 20 years in prison, with a 15-year period of parole ineligibility, said spokesman Al Della Fave.

Clayton met the victim on social media. He then drove to her home on May 1 and took her to a local hotel in Ocean County, Della Fave said.

Just two days later, a joint investigation by the Prosecutor's Office, the Toms River and Lakewood police department determined the girl was sexually assaulted by Clayton at the hotel.

Clayton was also charged with sexual assault, luring and endangering the welfare of a child. He is in the Ocean County Jail in Toms River in lieu of $375,000 cash bail, he said.

The victim could not identify the hotel, but was able to provide details about Clayton's appearance the vehicle he was driving and information about his social media accounts, Della Fave said.

Authorities canvassed local hotels and were able to identify where the assault took place, he said.

Authorities also learned that Clayton had pawned various items, including a cellular telephone, which were later recovered by Sgt. Michael Cecchini from the Prosecutor's Office. Clayton's car was recovered by Toms River Sgt. Steven Austin at the Wawa on Route 9 in Toms River, Della Fave said.

Austin immediately contacted patrol units and Clayton was detained at the store.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge Melanie Donohue Appleby also ordered that Clayton have no contact with the victim, Della Fave said.

Image: Ocean County Prosecutor's Office