An East Earl Township man charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and furnishing her with a pregnancy test will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing. 

Judge Jonathan Heisse ruled July 20 that the case of Andrew Pemberton, of the first block of Granite Drive, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on counts of statutory sexual assault, two counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count each of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors.

Pemberton, 18, is accused of assaulting the victim at a park in the 400 block of East Jackson Street in New Holland Borough in March.

The victim told police Pemberton sexually assaulted her at New Holland Park. Multiple witnesses also said they were aware that Pemberton had assaulted the victim, with one telling police the victim became distressed when she learned that others knew of the assaults.

One witness told police Pemberton had sexually assaulted the victim at least four times, including once in a car. The same witness told police the victim took an expired pregnancy test she found at home after one sexual encounter. 

On another occasion Pemberton provided the victim with a pregnancy test and then proceeded to sexually assault her in a car when it came back negative, she told police.  Investigators uncovered surveillance footage from inside a convenience store that purports to depict Pemberton acquiring a pregnancy test. 

Police began investigating Pemberton in April after school district officials informed them that he was suspected of having sexually assaulted the victim.

Pemberton remains in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.

West Earl Township Police Det. Heather Halstead filed the charges.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.