A Virginia man will stand trial in Armstrong County on charges he molested a 7-year-old girl in Gilpin.
Charges were held for court this week against Richard Faulkner, 59, of 5309 Ecoff Ave., Chester, Va.
The local attack reportedly took place in a house along Evergreen Road in 2006. Police weren't notified about it until last year.
Faulkner and the girl aren't strangers, and it wasn't unusual for her family to allow the visits in 2006, the girl testified at a hearing before Leechburg District Judge James Andring.
Amid tears, the girl told Andring what happened and answered questions from Faulkner's attorney. The girl was the only one who testified.
When arrested in March, Faulkner was charged with seven offenses. Charges of reckless endangerment and aggravated indecent assault were withdrawn before the hearing.
Andring held to court charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.
Faulkner was in the county jail Thursday in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Chuck Biedka is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4711 or cbiedka@tribweb.com.
