Tuesday, October 28, 2008
STAFF REPORT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A man charged in the rape of a 3-year-old girl is now also charged in the sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl.
Pennsylvania State Police charged Gary Joel Anderson, 28, of Harlansburg Road in Hickory Township, with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault.
Anderson was arraigned Monday at District Magistrate David Rishel’s office. He failed to post $500,000 bail and returned to the Lawrence County Jail, where he’s been since Thursday.
He was arraigned and sent to jail Thursday, also in lieu of a $500,000 bond, on charges concerning the 3-year-old. He is charged with rape, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and indecent exposure.
The 3-year-old is a relative of Anderson’s live-in girlfriend, who was baby-sitting the child early in the morning Oct. 17 when the rape took place, police said. The child’s parents brought it to the attention of police, said Trooper Shawn Schexnaildre, who investigated both cases.
Anderson found the child alone on a couch next to his room and attacked her, police said. During a taped confession, Anderson said he also attacked the 7-year-old, police said. She also is a relative of his girlfriend’s.
Police said Anderson assaulted the 7-year-old multiple times between early July and late September.
Police said Anderson’s computer also had a significant amount of child pornography downloads, including explicit photographs and movies.
The child porn and the two assaults are being handled as separate cases, police said.
Anderson is set to appear at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Lawrence County Central Court for a preliminary hearing in the case involving the younger girl. He is set to appear at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 4 in Central Court for a preliminary hearing in the case involving the 7-year-old.