Upper Yoder man accused of raping child

A Johnstown-area man in jail for escaping police custody is facing felony charges accused of raping an 8-year-old boy last month, authorities said.

Upper Yoder Township police charged Mikel Gwinn, 29, of the 100 block of Wilshire Boulevard, with rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault on a person under 13, indecent assault and sexual assault. he accused. corruption of minors.

Gwinn allegedly assaulted the child on Oct. 5, according to the complaint affidavit.

Gwinn is also accused of showing pornographic images to the child on his cell phone.

A forensic interview was conducted with the child on October 16 at the Department of Support Child Advocacy Center in Richland County.

State parole officials, the U.S. Marshals Service and state police were searching for Gwinn on a state parole violation and found him at the Camoset Village Trailer Park in Upper Yoder Township on Oct. 17.

Upon his escape, he was handed over to the county police for questioning in the rape case, leading to a four-hour manhunt involving city and suburban police.

Cambria County sheriff’s deputies found Gwinn hiding in the 500 block of 700 Place in the Moxham section of Johnstown. He was accused of running away.

Gwinn was arraigned on rape charges Wednesday by Upper Yoder Township District Judge Susan Gindlesperger.

He was returned to the Cambria County Jail in Ebensburg, where he is being held on $500,000 percent bond.

Patrick Buchnowski is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5061. Follow him on Twitter @PatBuchnowskiTD.