LANCASTER, PA — A Leola man will face charges of rape of a child and six related charges in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas following a preliminary hearing last Thursday before Lancaster County Magisterial District Judge William Benner.
Timothy Barker, 48 of the first block of E. Main Street, also faces charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault of a person less than 13, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children.
Judge Benner determined the evidence presented during the proceeding by Assistant District Attorney Amy Muller was sufficient for the case to be heard in county court.
The victim took the stand and testified the abuse started at the age of 9 and escalated before ending when around 13.
Further testimony revealed Barker, who was between 40 and 44 at the time of the abuse, was in a caregiving role and at one point told the victim he wanted to “teach her how to use her body correctly” before she was older.
The now 17-year-old victim was interviewed on July 18, 2023, at the Lancaster County Children’s Alliance after a referral was generated by a ChildLine report. The victim disclosed the abuse occurred at a home in West Lampeter Township.
Barker will be formally arraigned on October 13 at 9 a.m.
Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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