An Adams Township man associated with Mars Youth Football inappropriately touched three boys when they were at his house, according to charges issued by state police on Friday, Sept. 5.

Nathan Workman Mitchell, 51, is accused of touching two boys inappropriately over the past three years while they slept off melatonin doses given by Mitchell. More recently, a third boy alleged inappropriate touching, which prompted an investigation.

According to police, Mitchell would insist two boys, both under age 13, take melatonin to fall asleep faster when they slept at his home. While the boys slept, Mitchell would touch them under their clothing, police said.

These assaults happened while the boys slept beside Mitchell on a makeshift bed — pillows and blankets on the floor — and one boy said Mitchell would sometimes lie beside him in bed as well, according to the affidavit.

Police said they became aware of the accusations Aug. 24 when the third boy, also under age 13, reported Mitchell had rubbed his buttocks and legs.

Mitchell was charged with three felony counts each of corruption of minors and child endangerment, two felony counts each of sexual assault by a sports official and indecent assault of a person less than 13, three misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of an impaired person and misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 13, following Friday interviews with the three boys at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Butler County. The charges were filed Monday in District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz’s office.

“The alleged incident occurred outside of our football and cheer activities, and we want to emphasize that the board has never received any complaints or reports of inappropriate behavior during program events,” Mars Area Recreational Sports said in a news release Friday. “Nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution and in alignment with our commitment to the safety of our children, the board acted immediately.

“On Monday, Aug. 25, the individual was removed from all program activities and permanently banned from further involvement.”

Quality EMS, in Adams Township, also issued a statement saying Mitchell worked part time for the service for two-and-a-half years and is on leave. It said there were no reports of allegations or known incidents while he worked for the agency.

“As part of our standard hiring process, EMT Mitchell underwent thorough background checks conducted by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police,” the statement said.

The Mars Area School District also released a statement Friday saying it was aware of the investigation and has banned the individual from its grounds.

According to the affidavit, the first boy interviewed said Mitchell began touching him about three years ago during sleepovers. The boy said Mitchell would invite him to sleepovers at his home through text messages and iCloud messages on the boy’s iPad.

While there, he said Mitchell would give him what he said was melatonin. Mitchell would then rub or scratch the boy’s back before touching him inappropriately, police said.

Mitchell would also send the boy texts that read “I love you,” which would make the boy “uncomfortable,” police said.

The second boy interviewed said Mitchell had saved the boy’s name in his phone with heart emojis beside it. He recounted multiple incidents where Mitchell took photos and videos of the boy without consent. Police said Mitchell would also send the boy messages on Snapchat, with the most-recent message being a couple of days before the interview.

The boy told interviewers Mitchell began touching him in 2022. He said Mitchell would give him melatonin then would lie in the makeshift bed between him and the first boy interviewed.

The boy expressed reluctance to take the melatonin on one occasion, but Mitchell insisted, according to police.

Sometimes, the boy said, he’d wake up to Mitchell inappropriately touching him, according to the affidavit.

Mitchell also would instruct the boy to shower in his en suite bathroom instead of the other bathroom in the home, according to the affidavit. When the boy exited the shower, Mitchell would often be sitting in the bed under the blankets waiting for him.

The boy also told interviewers Mitchell would sometimes hold his hand during car rides and whisper to the boy “I love you.”

He also required the boy’s phone location to be on at all times and would tell him to turn it back on when it was off, police said.

The boy said Mitchell also slapped him and flicked him on multiple occasions.

The third boy indicated inappropriate touching, but the affidavit didn’t detail any of the alleged assaults.