Police: Man Met Sex Abuse Victim at Church

The Wgal
December 4, 2012

www.wgal.com/news/susquehanna-valley/dauphin/Police-Man-met-sex-abuse-victim-at-church/-/9704162/17626210/-/xcsu8wz/-/index.html

Joshua Mitchell Markelwitz Lower Paxton Township Police

[with video]

Lower Paxton Township police have charged an Enola man with rape of a child among other charges following an investigation.

A 15-year-old township resident disclosed to police that Joshua Mitchell Markelwitz, 26, had sexual contact with her beginning when she was 12 years old.

Police said the incidents occurred at the accuser's residence, at a township church where he was involved with youth programs, and in his car.

Court documents show that Markelwitz gave the girl rides to and from church and guitar practice.

Police said that's when he raped and had oral sex with her.

Church officials said they knew nothing of the assaults.

"I feel at this point, I feel confident saying we have done as much as possible to alleviate this kind of thing," said Gerald Wolgemuth of Charlton United Methodist Church.

Markelwitz was arrested Friday and taken to Dauphin County Prison with bail set at $750,000.

Police said they think there could be other accusers.

He is charged with rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, involuntary deviate intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, indecent exposure, unlawful contact/communication with a minor, corruption of minors and disseminating photo/film of child sex acts.