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The Plymouth home was filthy and the boy never enrolled in school, officials say.
Hann
Caravella
PLYMOUTH – A man and his girlfriend were arrested Friday on felony sex-related charges for allegedly repeatedly raping a child they would not allow to leave the home.
Robert Caravella, 51, and Carol Ann Hann, 43, of Gould Street, were charged with two counts of rape of a child, three counts of endangering the welfare of children, and a single count of corruption of minors. Caravella was further charged with dissemination of sexual materials.
Luzerne County detectives said in arrest records the boy, now 13 years old, found inside the house was never enrolled in school, never taught how to use utensils to eat and did not know how to bathe or use a toothbrush. The boy did not have any friends and lacked social skills to communicate with other people.
Investigators also allege the couple’s house was found in deplorable conditions with rotten food and urine soaked towels.
Caravella and Hann were arraigned by District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $100,000 bail each.
According to the criminal complaint:
Caseworkers with Children and Youth Services in August found the house unfit for human occupation with food rotting, filthy floors and carpets, garbage and a foul odor throughout the interior.
An older relative of the couple would often urinate throughout the house, which was filled with cats.
Investigators learned in January that the boy claimed he was sexually assaulted by Hann for several years. The assaults began when Caravella would view pornographic movies inside the house and invite the boy to watch with Hann, the criminal complaint says.
The boy took his anger out by killing Hann’s cats. It is estimated he killed 50 felines, the criminal complaints say.
Investigators said the boy has not had any contact with the couple since August.
In an unrelated case, Caravella is facing felony sexual assault charges in county court involving two girls, according to court records.
Two girls in their teens alleged Caravella sexually assaulted them at a house in Nanticoke and in his house in Plymouth. One of the girls further alleged Caravella made her watch pornography on a computer and look at pornographic magazines, arrest records say.
A preliminary hearing on the latest charges is scheduled for June 14 before Whittaker.