On July 15, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a guilty plea for an 81-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting a teen.

Dennis Kochenash, of Bradford County, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16 years old and a misdemeanor count of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.

As part of the plea deal, the remaining charges were withdrawn. Kochenash entered the plea in a hearing before Judge Douglas G. Reichley.

Kochenash will be evaluated to determine if he meets the legal requirement to be a sexually violent predator and is scheduled for sentencing 9 a.m. Nov. 9 before Reichley.

Kochenash remains in Lehigh County Jail on $300,000 bail.

Before living in Bradford County, Kochenash lived in Whitehall Township for many years, according to Holihan. He is charged with offenses in both counties, and, as per an agreement with the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office will investigate and prosecute the crimes that occurred in both counties.

On Oct. 27, 2025, Pennsylvania State Police in Fogelsville received a Child Line report of a victim who was 14 at the time the offenses began in 2024. Kochenash and the victim were known to each other before the allegations.

The investigation revealed Kochenash and the victim began communicating with each other through text messages and on Snapchat. The investigation revealed the contact continued for several months and included online communication, in-person communication and eventually the sexual assaults against the child.

In December 2024, Kochenash allegedly sexually assaulted the victim on several occasions and provided the victim with marijuana. The assaults took place in both Bradford County and in Lehigh County at the victim’s home.

This case was investigated by PSP Trooper Seth A. Heffner and is prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.