A Lancaster city man charged with raping a young girl decades ago will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing. 

Judge John Bender ruled Aug. 27 that the case of William Larue, of the 300 block of Hand Avenue, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on one count each of rape by threat of forcible compulsion and rape of a mentally ill or deficient victim.

Larue, 63, is accused of raping the then-8-year-old victim at his then-residence in the 300 block of Beaver Street in Lancaster city sometime in December 1988 or early 1989. Larue, who would have been in his mid-20s, was in a relationship with the victim’s mother around the time the rape is alleged to have occurred.

During the hearing the now 46-year-old victim testified that Larue was babysitting her and her three siblings when he forced her to commit sexual acts. After the others had gone to sleep Larue then forcibly raped her, shushing her and covering her mouth when she cried out in pain, she testified.

The victim was able to recall specific details from the incident, including that Larue smelled of alcohol at the time and that she and her siblings were watching the movie ‘Jaws’ at the time.

Though others were present inside the room at the time of the rape, they were unaware of what occurred, the victim said. 

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa, who will prosecute the case, argued that the victim had no means of resisting Larue due to his much larger size and that she was unable to provide consent due to her age. 

“I was only 8 years old,” the victim said. “Just a baby.”

After the rape the victim showed symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease “within days” and was moved into foster care for two years as a result, she said.

Though the victim disclosed the rape to medical personnel who examined her for sexually transmitted diseases, she did not mention Larue’s name to them at the time because she was scared, she said. The victim ultimately reported the rape in 2025 to Lancaster City Bureau of Police Det. Micaela Heckman, who filed the charges.

Larue remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $2 million bail.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.