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New Hampshire state rep charged with sexually assaulting 16-year-old girl

HUDSON, N.H. — A New Hampshire state representative faces charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl last year, state officials announced Friday.

Rep. Eric Schleien (R - Hudson), 29, was charged with one misdemeanor count of sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault, the Rockingham County Attorney General's Office said.

The charges stem from a July 2016 incident involving a 16-year-old girl.

Portsmouth police investigated the case and the Rockingham County Attorney's Office said it will prosecute the offenses in Rockingham Superior Court.

A court date for Schleien has not yet been announced.

New Hampshire House Speaker Shawn Jasper released a statement after the charges were announced and asked people not to rush to judgment.

"Anytime one of our members faces charges such as these we take it very seriously," he said in a statement. "The fact that the accusations against Rep. Schleien involve a 16-year-old girl is very disturbing, to say the least. But we need not rush to judgment until the investigation is concluded and Rep. Schleien has had his day in court. Obviously if the charges are proven true, I would expect the representative from Hudson to resign from the House immediately."