A 23-year-old Bethlehem man has been charged with allegedly forcing a 14-year-old boy to perform a sex act and having a romantic relationship with an 18-year-old male at KidsPeace, North Whitehall.

According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained from District Judge Jake Hammond, State Trooper Richard Webb on March 11 received a report of suspected child abuse to law enforcement officials from Lackawanna County Office of Children, Youth and Family alleging Jonathan Nivar, of 716 Evans St., a former KidsPeace counselor, had tried to kiss the 14-year-old and groom him for a relationship as well as give him a love letter.

Webb states contact with Mark Zara of the Lackawanna County Office of Children, Youth and Family revealed another juvenile at KidsPeace allegedly identified two more clients who were approached by Nivar and the procurement via fax of a love letter written by Nivar to a juvenile.

Webb states, upon reading the letter from Nivar to the 14-year-old, he learned the location at KidsPeace was the Fulton House at the Inventor's Center, 5300 KidsPeace Drive.

According to the affidavit, on March 11, the 14-year-old told a child interview specialist that Counselor "John" writes him notes, takes him on walks off the unit and tried to kiss him.

Webb states in the affidavit, the 14-year-old boy was shown a JNET photo of Jonathan Nivar and identified him as Counselor John,

Webb states, on April 29, he received an email from a staff member at KidsPeace relating that the 14-year-old had spoken to a counselor.

According to Webb in the affidavit, on May 30, the juvenile was re-interviewed and said before Nivar had written him the notes he was forced to perform oral sex on Nivar in his car in the parking lot of KidsPeace Donley Tech.

On May 15, the 18-year-old, who was interviewed via telephone, told police he maintained a romantic relationship with Nivar but didn't think they were doing anything wrong by them kissing and touching each other since they were both adults, the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, the 14-year-old said he was not completely honest the first time he was interviewed because he was not sure how his parents would react.

Webb states in the affidavit, the three clients interviewed believed the negative interactions with Nivar happened during the last two months of his employment at Kidspeace.

According to the affidavit, Nivar was employed at KidsPeace from July 30, 2012 to Jan. 31.

Nivar was charged with two counts felony of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, one count of institutional sexual assault of a minor, one count of institutional sexual assault, one count of statutory assault, and one count of indecent assault, the affidavit states.

According to Lehigh County records, Nivar was arraigned on June 5 before District Judge Jake Hammond, South Whitehall Township.

His bail was set at $250,000 monetary bail.

Nivar was unable to post bail and sent to Lehigh County Prison.