Police file charges in child rape case

 

By BRETT R. WHITLING
CLARION NEWS Writer

A 27-year-old Annville, Lebanon County, man is charged with raping a 12-year-old in 2013 in Washington Township.

Lars Matthew Rindahl, who was 23 at the time of the alleged incident, is charged with the rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, both first-degree felonies; statuary sexual assault and sexual assault both second-degree felonies and indecent assault of a person less than 13-years of age, an unclassified felony on Dec. 1, 2013.

In November 2016, an investigation began of a case involving a juvenile victim allegedly sexually assaulted by Rindahl, described in court documents as an ex-boyfriend of the victim’s sister.

At the time, Rindahl and his girlfriend resided along Sunny Road in Washington Township.

State police Cpl. James Weaver of the state police barracks in Marienville was originally in charge of the investigation. Weaver arranged a forensic interview with the victim at the Children’s Home Society in Bartow, Fla.

On Sept. 13, 2017, the investigation was subsequently handed over to state police Tpr. Shawn Nicewonger who spoke to the victim’s sister.

The sister said she dated the defendant for approximately two to three years and they resided together in Lickingville.

The sister told police she remembered the day in question and believed it was approximately one week before Christmas in 2013.

The sister said she left the residence for a little over an hour, leaving her sister and the defendant alone together.

The sister said when she arrived home, her sister told her she was borrowing a pair of her leggings.