District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan, Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Commander Seth Kelly and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced June 11 an arrest in a child rape investigation.

Kevin Esterly, 52, of Whitehall Township, is charged with rape, two counts each of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and unlawful contact with a minor-sexual offenses, all felonies of the first degree; and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and endangering the welfare of children — parent/guardian/another commits offense, felonies of the third degree.

Esterly was taken into custody in West Virginia after two police pursuits.

He is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

On Feb. 21, a report was filed with Allentown Police regarding a juvenile sex assault that is alleged to have occurred over an extended period of time beginning in the summer of 2015 and ending in March of 2018.

The name of the victim will not be released, but her partial date of birth is December 2001.

During interviews with police, the victim reported that she was first introduced to Esterly when she was 8 years old.

Esterly was the stepfather of the victim’s juvenile friend.

The victim told police she began spending a lot of time with the friend, including spending weekends and summers at the Esterly home.

The friend’s family later moved to a home in Lowhill Township.

The victim disclosed that in August 2015 when she was 13 years old, Esterly provided her with alcohol at a family birthday party and then sexually assaulted her.

Thereafter, the victim related that Esterly sexually assaulted her almost every time she slept over at his residence.

The victim further disclosed that Esterly later provided her with alcohol and drugs in exchange for sexual favors.

This case was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Taylor Dietrich, Allentown Police Department Detective Suzanne Toth and will be prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer.

Contributed article