Ephrata man charged with sexually abusing eight-year-old two decades ago has case proceed to county court

An Ephrata man charged with repeatedly raping and sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl more than 20 years ago will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing last month.

Judge Torrey Landis ruled Nov. 19 that the case of Joseph Shimp, 64, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on one count of rape of a child, four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, five counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and a single count each of contact or communication with a minor and corruption of minors.

Shimp, 64, is accused of repeatedly raping and sexually abusing the victim five different times at two different Ephrata residences between 2002 and 2003. Shimp would have been about 40 or 41 years old at the time.

The victim told police Shimp first masturbated in front of her and then forced her to perform sexual acts at a residence in the 200 block of Penn Avenue sometime during the summer of 2002. Two other similar assaults would take place at the same residence, with one occurring inside a play fort Shimp had constructed, the victim said.

Additional assaults occurred at Shimp’s own residence in the first block of North Oak Street, on one occasion while the victim was spending the night at the home with her siblings, she told police.  The victim said she awoke to find Shimp sexually abusing her.

On another occasion, Shimp took the victim into a tool shed on the property and sexually assaulted her, she told police.

Shimp is currently free after posted $75,000 bond.

Ephrata Borough Police Officer Victoria Matthews filed the charges.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.