A Pittsfield man has been jailed after a roughly 18-month investigation into a 13-year-old’s complaint of sexual misconduct.

James R. Fors, 51, of Pittsfield was charged Friday with third-degree felony corruption of minors – defendant age 18 or above and two counts of first-degree misdemeanor indecent assault forcible compulsion by the State Police at Warren after an investigation into an incident that allegedly took place May 7, 2022, in Brokenstraw Township. Magisterial District Judge Todd Woodin set bail at $50,000, and Fors was taken to the county jail after being unable to post bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in Woodin’s court for April 9.

The investigation began when the State Police received a referral from Warren County Children and Youth Services. A forensic interview was held June 2, 2023, at the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center with a girl who was 13 at the time. She said on Mother’s Day 2022 she was sleeping in her bedroom when she awoke to Fors allegedly touching the girl inappropriately.

“During the incident, the defendant attempted to hold the victim down as she struggled to get away from him,” the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed in the incident states.

A second forensic interview took place Jan. 24, 2025, at the Warren County Children’s Advocacy Center during which the girl repeated her story, at which point the State Police decided to file charges.