Hopewell Township Man Facing Trial

A Hopewell Township man will face trial on felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges and several others. Briar Chase, 24 waived all charges to court at his preliminary hearing on Monday. The criminal complaint alleges that Chase assaulted a minor at a home in Independence Township multiple times between 2019 and February of 2021. Police found multiple explicit images of the victim on his cell phone and several text messages discussing them in detail. Chase was 21 when the assaults began and the victim was 14. Chase also faces felony charges of statutory sexual assault, aggravated assault, child pornography and corruption of minors. He will be arraigned August 25.