Child sex assault charges to stand
Judge rejects most of challenges to 578 counts against Stonebraker
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The majority of the child sexual assault charges filed three years ago against a Hollidaysburg man remain intact as his case moves closer to trial in Blair County Court.
President Judge Elizabeth A. Doyle on Thursday heard a woman, now 20, describe how William John Stonebraker, now 53, sexually assaulted her when she was between 12 and 15 years old.
Subsequently, the judge denied challenges to most of Stonebraker's 578 charges and withheld rulings on a few of the charges pending further review.
Doyle also advised attorneys that she continues to review additional challenges to Stonebraker's charges and is awaiting a transcript from an earlier court proceeding.
"It's not going to be that long that this case will be ready to go to trial once these motions are done," Doyle said.
In support of the 578 charges, Assistant District Attorney Derek Elensky called upon the woman to describe her sexual interactions with Stonebraker inside a Frankstown Township residence.
The woman said Stonebraker started talking "about sexual things" with her when she was 11 and 12 years old.
She said he then encouraged her to touch him and he started touching her. That led him to engage in simulated sexual activity when he thrust himself against her and to oral sex, she said.
Defense attorney Thomas Dickey tried to challenge the woman's testimony by asking about her delayed disclosure.
The woman said she didn't tell anyone what was going on until she was 17 years old. She said she disclosed the secret to her younger sister, who told other family members.
The woman said she didn't tell anyone because Stonebraker said he would go to jail if she spoke about their activity.
"He would constantly ask if I had told anyone," the woman testified.
In addition to the 578 charges filed against Stonebraker in 2020, state police at Hollidaysburg filed additional child sexual assault charges against Stonebraker in May to address the allegations involving another teenager. In the case filed this year, state police at Hollidaysburg also filed multiple charges against Stonebraker's wife, Marie.
Both William Stonebraker and Marie Stonebraker remain out of jail after meeting significant bail requirements.
The charges against Stonebraker, in his 2020 and 2023 cases, and the charges against Marie Stonebraker include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child less than 16, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault with a child less than 16, and indecent exposure.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.