Police: Boy Raped by Township Worker

Police say Lower Macungie Township maintenance worker James Michael Andrews sexually assaulted a 13-year-old boy multiple times from August 2011 to March 8, 2012, at the man’s house and in the  Maintenance Building.

Pennsylvania State Police today charged Andrews, 47, of 2100 Aster Road, Macungie, with:

• Rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, both first-degree felonies
• Sexual assault, a second-degree felony
• Corruption of minors, a misdemeanor of the first-degree
• Indecent assault, a second-degree misdemeanor

Andrews was arraigned in Lehigh County Central Booking by District Judge Ronald Manescu and was committed to Lehigh County Prison under $200,000 bail. 

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 9, 2012, in Lehigh County Central Court.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Kirk R. Vanim of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Criminal Investigation Unit at the Fogelsville barracks:

On March 13, 2012, a member of the alleged victim’s family contacted Pennsylvania State Police at the Fogelsville barracks and reported that the boy had been sexually assaulted.

The boy, who was interviewed by state police and a child interview specialist, said that he had been sexually assaulted seven or eight times from August 2011 to March 8, 2012.  The boy said the assaults occurred at the defendant’s house and at the Lower Macungie Township Maintenance Building at 5536 Indian Creek Road in Lower Macungie Township.

State Police determined that Andrews is employed by Lower Macungie Township and has an office in the maintenance building. Andrews had access to township buildings after hours and had an access card that would disarm the building’s security system after hours.

The access card was unique to Andrews, and State Police analyzed alarm system logs for March 8, 2012, and determined that Andrews’ access card was used on that date.

Township officials Friday afternoon saying they are "deeply troubled" by the case but they did not provide any update on the status of Andrews' employment.

 As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, James Michael Andrews, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.