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Man pleads in sex assault case

Decision saves victim from testifying

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A 47-year-old Altoona man will be incarcerated for 15 to 30 years after rendering guilty pleas to sexually assaulting a girl for nine years, starting when she was 5 years old.

Kenneth R. Haverstine said little in Blair County Court on Wednesday as he stood before Judge Wade A. Kagarise and rendered guilty pleas to 153 charges, including multiple counts of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault and sexual assault.

Altoona police charged Haverstine on Sept. 13 after investigating the girl’s initial report that Haverstine forced her to perform oral sex on him three to five times a week, starting when she was about 5 years old.

Subsequently, the girl participated in two forensic interviews and offered other details allowing police to arrest Haverstine on the extensive number of sexual assault charges.

The girl, now 15 years old, did not attend Wednesday’s court proceeding where Haverstine, an inmate at the Blair County Prison, pleaded guilty.

The girl’s mother, who was in the courtroom and sometimes cried, provided a written statement indicating that Haverstine lied to her and everyone else.

“We are moving on and doing just fine,” the mother said of her and her daughter.

Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith told Kagarise that both the mother and daughter were agreeable to the negotiated sentence of 15 to 30 years.

“This will save the victim from having to testify at trial,” Smith said.

Defense attorney Julia Burke advised Kagarise that Haverstine is aware of the registration requirement with state police that he faces for the rest of his life.

Based on the guilty pleas to charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and aggravated indecent assault, Haverstine must register quarterly with state police, providing the entity with his residential address and related information.

Kagarise also ordered Haverstine to complete a sexual offender evaluation and follow through with recommended treatment.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.

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