Traveling preacher to face child rape trial

September 19, 2012 at 8:39a.m.

BEDFORD, Pa. (AP) — A traveling preacher accused of raping an 11-year-old girl at a western Pennsylvania hotel is set to stand trial.

The Rev. Walter Bradshaw faces 23 counts in his trial scheduled to begin today in Bedford County Court.

Investigators say Bradshaw, of Lexington, N.C., sexually assaulted the girl in a Bedford hotel in 2007 or 2008. He was arrested in 2010 after the girl reported the alleged encounter.

Authorities say Bradshaw was in the area for revival meetings at the time of the assault.

The girl’s mother pleaded no-contest in April to charges including endangerment and soliciting perjury. Investigators say she knew Bradshaw intended to have sex with her daughter then encouraged the girl to lie to police.

Defense attorney Thomas Crawford tells The Altoona Mirror his client is innocent.