Another alleged victim emerges
A Canton Township man arraigned Tuesday on charges including rape of a child found himself before the same district judge less than 24 hours later for arraignment after another alleged victim told state police she, too, was sexually assaulted by him 16 years ago.
Timothy Adam Hewitt, 31, of 70 Point View Drive, turned himself in for arraignment before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, indecent assault and indecent exposure.
On Wednesday, he again appeared before Weller, this time for arraignment on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, indecent assault and indecent exposure. Hewitt was 16 at the time of this alleged assault, but Weller said state police were told by the Washington County district attorney’s office to charge him as an adult.
“It feels like deja vu,” Weller told Hewitt as the defendant sat before him.
Trooper Joseph Ross said he filed the additional charges after he was contacted by another woman who had learned from news accounts of Hewitt being wanted by state police. Ross interviewed the woman, who is now 25, and filed the additional charges.
Hewitt is accused of sexually assaulting and raping a girl inside his Buffalo Township home in 2012. The girl reportedly told her guardian that she did not realize what was happening because of her age. The house where the assault allegedly took place was later destroyed in an Oct. 27, 2013, fire that claimed the life of Hewitt’s wife and 5-year-old son.
The second allegation stems from incidents that happened at a home on Zediker Station Road in South Strabane Township and also at Hewitt’s home on Taylorstown Ridge Road outside Taylorstown in 2001. The girl, who was 8 at the time of the alleged assaults, told Ross during an interview Tuesday Hewitt had inappropriate contact with her at both homes.
When asked by Weller if he knew the woman, Hewitt responded that he had no idea as to her identity. Ross agreed to meet with Hewitt’s attorney, David Wolf, and provide the woman’s name.
Hewitt remains free on two $50,000 unsecured bonds set by Weller on each case. He is to have no contact with either woman or their family.