Alexandria man convicted of raping, trafficking teen girl

Blair Co., PA (WJAC) — Authorities in Blair County say an Alexandria man faces decades behind bars after he was convicted of raping and trafficking a teenage girl on Easter weekend in 2021.

Police charged Donald Hetrick in late 2022 in connection to a sex trafficking investigation at a Blair County hotel.

Authorities say officers discovered messages between Hetrick and his co-defendant, Nikkia Beck, in which the pair reportedly planned to pay the teenage victim to come to the hotel to engage in sexual acts.

Investigators say, during the visit, Beck had allegedly provided the teens with alcohol and marijuana.

Police say the victim then ended up in an adjoining room, where Hetrick was staying, and later awoke to find Hetrick sexually assaulting her.

On Wednesday, officials say a Blair County jury found Hetrick guilty of all the charges he faced, including felony human trafficking, rape of an unconscious person, statutory sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Authorities also noted that this was the first human trafficking related case to be tried before a jury in Blair County.

“I am grateful that this community, through its juries, protects its children from the predatory sexual behavior of those who insidiously seek to harm them. No child should have to defend her choice to trust an adult. And no child or adult should have to fear their body will be debased simply because they’re too vulnerable to defend it. Being bigger, stronger, or older does not give anyone free license to satisfy their sexual perversions on those who are smaller, weaker, or younger. This office will fight to hold accountable any predator who disagrees and makes the tragic mistake of doing so within Blair County," said ADA Nichole Smith.

Hetrick is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23.

Authorities say he faces up to 40 years for the human trafficking charges, 20 years for the rape charges, 10 years for the sexual exploitation conviction and 7 years for being convicted of criminally using a communication device.

Prosecutors also noted that Beck's case is still pending in court.

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