Charges against a Lehighton man accused of raping a young girl - who was age 6 at the time - have been bound over for court.

Jason Ahner, 43, chose to have a preliminary hearing Friday before District Judge William Kissner of Palmerton. Ahner faces charges on two counts each of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault.The victim was the first to testify at the hearing.Attorney Michael Greek, who represented the commonwealth, asked the victim, now 8 years old, to explain the events that transpired back in October of 2009.Greek asked the victim what occurred when she was inside a camper with the accused, to which the victim replied "not really good things."The victim then used two small stuffed animals she brought with her to show the actions of her and the accused while inside the camper.The victim said she didn't tell anyone about the incident that day. She then pointed to a woman in the courtroom she said she recognized who witnessed the actions that occurred on that day.Monica Reed, the next witness called to testify, said she knew Ahner because they had gone to school together years ago.Reed said she was at the campground in Franklin Township with her husband and others the same day Ahner was there with the victim and the victim's mother.Reed said she told her husband what she saw and also told the victim's mother once she returned to the campground.Trooper Dean Deem of the state police was the final witness to testify.Deem said he was on duty when the victim and her mother arrived at the station to explain what happened. He said the victim's mother told him her daughter engaged in "improper sexual contact" with Ahner.Deem said he then interviewed several witnesses. On Oct. 16, 2009, Deem said Ahner arrived at the barracks to turn himself in. At that time, there was a warrant out for Ahner's arrest, Deem said.Deem said Ahner was then placed in custody, at which time he was interviewed. Since Ahner indicated to Deem that he wasn't very proficient writing, Deem handed Ahner paper with 16 questions, and had him write his answers.It was at that point, Deem said, that Ahner admitted as part of his written response to the questions that he touched the victim, but that he never penetrated her with his private parts.According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Deem, the victim related that Ahner had engaged her in this type of activity since she was 5 years old, indicating that this started just after she began attending kindergarten class. This occurred in September of 2008.Kent Watkins, the defense attorney who represented Ahner, admitted that prima facie had been established through testimony. But, Watkins said he objected to their being two counts on each charge, and requested that the second charges be dropped. Kissner denied the request.Kissner then ruled that Ahner would have his case bound over to the Carbon County Court of Common Pleas. He is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. March 29 for a pretrial conference in the district attorney's office.Ahner remains free in lieu of $100,000, 10-percent bail. As part of the bail conditions, Kissner ruled that Ahner is to have no contact with the victim, the victim's family, or any eyewitnesses; is not to possess or consume alcoholic beverages or nonprescribed controlled substances; and is not to be within 500 yards of the victim, the victim's family, or any of the witnesses.