New Kensington man accused of sexually assaulting young girl

An 11-year-old girl from Westmoreland County, who police say was sexually assaulted by a New Kensington man, told investigators she thought playing with frogs in her yard might stop the alleged abuse.

Joshua J. Holtman, 33, is accused of sexually assaulting the girl over a three-year period starting in September 2015. He faces charges of aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault.

“She thought that if she (played with the frogs, Holtman) would not touch her anymore because she would be dirty,” Allegheny Township police wrote in a criminal complaint filed this month against Holtman.

Police allege the assaults happened in New Kensington and in Allegheny Township. Holtman is a person known to the victim.

He allegedly took the child to a basement, purportedly to do laundry, but then put a towel over her head and then started to take her underwear off and molest her, according to the criminal complaint.

Police say the girl told them Holtman would sit next to her “to cuddle.” She said she didn’t want to because she knew Holtman would inappropriately touch her.

It was after one such incident that she went outside to play with frogs as a deterrent, police say.

Police began an investigation after a Child Line report was filed by a teacher.

According to court records, Holtman was arraigned and is being held in the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond pending a Jan. 22 preliminary hearing before District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec.

Chuck Biedka is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chuck at 724-226-4711, cbiedka@tribweb.com or via Twitter @ChuckBiedka.