Man, 28, charged in rape of 3-year-old girl

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A Hickory Township man is charged with raping a 3-year-old girl.

Gary Joel Anderson, 28, of Harlansburg Road, confessed the crime and gave a detailed account of it, said state police in New Castle.

He was arraigned Thursday at the office of District Magistrate David Rishel on charges of rape/less than 13, a first-degree felony; aggravated indecent assault/less than 13, a second-degree felony; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse/less than 13, a first-degree felony; statutory sexual assault, a second-degree felony; indecent assault/less than 13, a first-degree misdemeanor; and indecent exposure, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Police said the child was a relative of Anderson’s live-in girlfriend, who was baby-sitting her Oct. 17 as she normally did.

Police said the child’s father dropped her off early, and the aunt was supposed to take the girl to a school bus pickup point.

Anderson woke early and found the girl alone on a couch in the room next to his, police said. He proceeded to attack her, they said.

Anderson gave a taped confession after receiving his Miranda rights, police said.

After his arraignment, Anderson was sent to the Lawrence County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Lawrence County Central Court.