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ANDREW TUTINO atutino@leader.net
Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 4
HAZLETON – Robert E. Durant II sits in the Luzerne County prison, charged
with raping of a 6-month-old baby last month.
Police said Durant was staying with a friend’s child while the baby’s father
went to pick up the mother from work. Durant was alone with the child for
about 15 minutes. During that time, police say, he engaged in sexual
intercourse with the child. According to arrest papers, Durant has confessed
to the crime. A week after his arrest, he remains in jail on $100,000 bail
while awaiting his preliminary hearing on Feb. 23. Little is known about
Durant. Information was pieced together through court records, information he
gave at his arraignment and his high school yearbook. Durant was born on Sept.
10, 1974, in Plainfield, N.J. He is not married, nor does he have any
children. His only family in the area are his parents and an uncle. It is
unclear when he moved to Hazleton, but he was part of the first class to
graduate from the new Hazleton Area High School in 1993. Durant wasn’t in any
clubs, nor did he participate on any sports teams. Aside from his senior
picture, the only other place Durant’s name appears is in the seniors
information section, where graduates supplied addresses and other personal
information so classmates could keep in touch. Under Durant’s listing was a
home address on South Cedar Street, Hazleton – the same address he gave law
enforcement officials when he was arrested on Jan. 29. He also listed one
hobby: billiards. Attempts to reach Durant’s family this week were
unsuccessful. After graduation, Durant lived in Hazleton at a Peace Street
address, he said at his arraignment. It is unclear when he moved back to South
Cedar Street. Almost four years after he graduated from high school, Durant
was convicted on burglary and driving under the influence in 1997. About that
time he started working at Eagle Rock Ski Resort, where he was employed for
three years. During the three months prior to his arrest on the rape charge,
Durant was employed at a temporary employment service in Hazleton. Calls
placed to the ski resort and employment services in Hazleton to confirm
Durant’s employment information were not returned. At his arraignment, held in
Hazleton City Council chambers on Jan. 29, Durant answered District Justice
Joseph Zola’s questions, but offered no reason if or why he committed the
crimes he is charged with. He wore a tie-dyed shirt, brown pants and a pair of
black boots.