Charges laid over alleged rape of young child – Connect FM | Local News Radio

Joshua Xavier Barden, 33, of Vandergrift, is in custody for allegedly raping a young child in Porter Township, according to state police in Punxsutawney. The indictment, filed July 1, includes several counts related to incidents between 2021 and 2022, when the victim, now 9 years old, was allegedly abused multiple times. Barden admitted to a woman he knows that he was involved, claiming it was unintentional and that the child asked him to perform inappropriate acts.

Barden was accused of the following:

• 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)