Allentown man arrested for raping two young girls, police say – NBC10 Philadelphia

Warning: This article contains graphic details of alleged sexual harassment that may be disturbing to some readers.

An Allentown, Pennsylvania, man has been arrested and charged in connection with an investigation into child rape, human trafficking and sexual assault, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.

Joshua Mickey Martel, 31, has been charged with multiple sex offenses after assaulting two young girls, officials said.

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According to officials, on July 31, a 12-year-old girl reported to her guardian that her mother had sold her to Martel for cash and drugs.

Authorities said that sometime between April 23 and 24, the girl told investigators that her mother took her and her siblings to a hotel in the 1000 block of Airport Road in Allentown, where they shared a room with Martel.

The girl told investigators she witnessed her mother take money and drugs from Martel before leaving her alone in a hotel room with him, officials said. Martel sexually and physically assaulted the girl. She tried to escape, but Martel wouldn’t let her.

In the second case, officials said a school resource officer received information that a 13-year-old girl may be in
same hotel on Airport Road as Martel.

In that case, police said, a 13-year-old girl was picked up by Uber after school on May 21 and did not show up for school the next day. Officers found her in Martela’s hotel room, and she claimed the man had sexually assaulted her.

Resources for victims of sexual assault are available at the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the National Sexual Violence Helpline at 800-656-4673.

In the first case, involving a 12-year-old girl, officials said Martel was charged with rape of a child, rape by force, sexual assault, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of the victim, all first-degree felonies; sexual assault, a second-degree felony; corruption of minors, a third-degree felony; indecent act without consent and assault, all second-degree misdemeanors.

In the second case, involving a 13-year-old girl, officials said Martel was charged with sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, a first-degree felony, and corruption of minors and sexual exploitation of children – possession of child pornography, a third-degree felony.

Martel was arrested Wednesday, arraigned, and bail was set at $500,000 on both counts, officials said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.

Officials also note that the mother of the 12-year-old victim is also charged with felony child rape, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child and misdemeanor simple assault. She is being held in the Lehigh County Jail on $350,000 bail.