Lewisburg, Pa. — A 42-year-old Mifflinburg man allegedly sexually assaulted a teen girl at least 10 times in a span of just over a year, police say.
Timothy Alan Dowhower was charged after a ChildLine referral on April 4 from Union County Children and Youth Services led police to interview the teen girl. The girl told police that the alleged sexual assaults began in the summer of 2022 when she was 14 and continued through 2023, according to the criminal complaint filed by Trp. James Nestico of state police at Milton.
Dowhower would get the girl in situations where she was alone and would then touch her inappropriately, according to Nestico. The alleged assaults occurred at various locations in Kelly Township. The girl told police she was sexually assaulted by Dowhower at least 10 times.
During one of the incidents in 2023, the girl attempted to pull away and Dowhower got mad at her and grabbed her legs, according to the complaint.
The girl told police that when Dowhower would text her about the alleged incidents, he would refer to the sexual acts as "trusting him" or as "trust." The girl believed Dowhower did this so that if anyone saw the conversation, they would not know what they were talking about, Nestico wrote.
Police obtained Dowhower's phone records which showed correspondence between him and the girl. Dowhower allegedly asked her when "they could do it again" and threatened her when she gave him pushback, according to the complaint.
Police also interviewed a woman who knew Dowhower and the girl. The woman told police she believed Dowhower started grooming the girl when she was 12 by buying her gifts such as clothing and jewelry, Nestico wrote.
Nestico filed 23 charges against Dowhower including felony aggravated indecent assault of a minor less than 16, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, sexual extortion, and related misdemeanor charges. Dowhower was arraigned by District Judge Jeffrey A. Rowe and posted $200,000 bail.
During a preliminary hearing Thursday at Rowe's office, his case was waived for court. Dowhower will have formal arraignment on Aug. 5 in front of Union County Judge Michael Piecuch.
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