Man arrested for alleged rape of 6-year-old girl in Jefferson County – GantNews.com

Joshua Barden (Explore Jefferson)

PORTER TWP., Pennsylvania (EYT) – Police say a man is behind bars for allegedly raping a young child in Porter Township.

According to court documents, Punxsutawney State Police criminal fees against 33-year-old Joshua Xavier Bardenof Vandergrift, in the office of District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock on Monday, July 1.

According to a criminal complaint, this incident occurred approximately two (2) to three (3) years ago and an exact date is unknown. The alleged incident(s) occurred multiple times between 2021 and 2022 in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.

The victim, who is currently nine years old, would have been approximately six to seven years old at the time of this incident, which the accused, identified as Joshua Bardenabout 29 to 30 years old, the complaint states.

The investigation began on March 18, when the victim reported being sexually assaulted multiple times by Barden in an apartment in Porter Township, Jefferson County.

In a forensic During an interview on April 4, the victim stated that Barden inappropriately touched her with his hands/fingers and mouth. She told police this happened several times and that Barden told her to “keep this a secret,” the complaint states.

On April 12, investigators learned that Barden had contacted a woman he knew about the incident. In the phone call, Barden said he had received a letter from CYS with the victim’s name on it. He was upset and crying and said he was “going to do 22 years for this” and that he was scared, the complaint states.

Barden further told the known woman that he and the victim were “playing around” and he did it accidentally. The known woman told Barden that such things do not happen accidentally and that she did not believe himBarden then stated that the victim “asked him to do these things to her,” the complaint states.

Barden was charged on Monday, July 1, with the following count:

• Rape of a child, serious crime (four counts)
• IDSI Person Under 16, Felony 1 (Four Counts)
• Sexual Assault, Serious Crime (four counts)
• Involved: deviant sexual intercourse with a child, felony (four counts)

A preliminary hearing is planned for July 3, 10:00 a.m., with Judge Mizerock presiding.

EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Extreme graphic Due to the sexual nature of the alleged crime, no details were given.
EDITOR NOTE 2: Several details were taken from this Article to protect the identity of the alleged victim.