LEBANON COUNTY, Pa. — A Lebanon County man is facing charges for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl on a church playground in May.
Jonathan Service, 42, of South Londonderry Township, allegedly admitted to being at the playground with the victim on May 17 but denied that anything criminal happened. The girl told police that she was at the playground to play with Service's children, according to a criminal complaint.
In an interview, the victim told police that Service kissed her, touched her inappropriately and raped her. She also accused Service of touching her inappropriately while swimming at his house the previous summer.
DNA on a swab of the suspect's mouth showed a match to DNA collected as the result of a forensic exam kit obtained from the victim, police said. Service allegedly claimed that the victim initiated contact between the two of them and touched his genitals and then herself, and that is how his DNA was found on her.
The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office approved of charging Service with rape forcible compulsion, rape threat of forcible compulsion, aggravated indecent assault without consent, criminal attempt - aggravated indecent assault - forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault: 11 years older, indecent assault person less 16 yrs age, indecent assault person less 16 years age, unlawful contact with minor - sexual offenses, corruption of minors - defendant age 18 or above, criminal attempt - involuntary deviate sexual intercourse forcible compulsion and criminal attempt - involuntary deviate sexual intercourse threat forcible compulsion.
Service is being held in Lebanon County Prison, unable to post bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 21.
