A convicted sex offender has been charged with raping a girl over a 3è-year-period.

The period might have been much shorter, but the girl’s mother did not believe the girl’s claim that Jason L. Hites was assaulting her — the mother knew Hites was a convicted sex offender and “forgave” him — and the girl did not complain again out of fear of punishment, state police aid.

Hites, 27, of Harrisville, formerly of Mercer and Pine Township, has been charged with four counts each of rape, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and indecent assault, two counts of indecent exposure, six counts of corruption of minors and one count of failing to update his address.

The first offense occurred in Dec. 2006 in Mercer, the second in the summer of 2008 in Harrisville, and three offenses in June and July in Pine Township, police said.

The girl, now 8, was 4 when the first assault occurred, and her mother was pregnant with Hites’ child at the time, police said.

Police were notified after the girl told a girl relative and some friends, who alerted adults, police said.

“Jason said not to tell anyone that I did that,” the girl said, according to police. “He said that after every time.”

A girl relative witnessed one of the assaults, and police said they seized two pairs of the girl’s underwear, but did not disclose if any evidence was recovered.

The girl headed off a potential assault when she confronted Hites, police said.

“I said, ‘Jason, why do you keep doing this to me?’ He said, ‘I don’t know,’ ” police reported the girl as saying.

Hites faces a preliminary hearing at 11:30 a.m. today before District Judge D. Neil McEwen, Pine Township.

Mercer County Children and Youth Services and Child Advocacy Center, Youngstown, assisted.

Hites pleaded guilty to a 2000 charge of indecent assault on a child under 13 that occurred in Springfield Township, and was sentenced to 3 to 18 months in Mercer County Jail. He was not deemed a sexually violent predator, but was required under Megan’s Law to report his whereabouts and other information to authorities.

In 2006, he pleaded guilty to failing to notify authorities of a change of address, and paid a fine.