A Lansford man has been charged with raping several children more than three decades ago.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Nicolas De La Iglesia of the Pennsylvania State police Troop N Lehighton Barracks:

On Dec. 10, the victim said that when she was between the ages of 7-12, she was sexually assaulted by Jason Eckhart, now 48.

The victim said that Eckhart said that Eckhart threatened to hurt her if she told on him. She said incidents occurred 10-20 times when she was between 7-12 years old.

Eckhart was between 14-19 years old at the time.

At 5:10 p.m. Dec. 12, Trooper Kevin Kriedler and De La Iglesia interviewed Eckhart while he was seated in his vehicle in the parking lot of his residence.

As they approached his residence, Eckhart called them over to his vehicle and said that he was comfortable speaking with them while he was seated in his vehicle.

De La Iglesia informed Eckhart that he was investigating an incident from the 1980s that involved him, and asked him if something inappropriate had happened.

Eckhart said, “I kick myself over it every day.”

They continued to talk, and Eckhart said he had touched the victim, as well as several other victims, in a sexual manner when he was younger.

De La Iglesia told Eckhart that the victim had accused him of sexually assaulting her and he initially denied it.

Eckhart then said that he doesn’t remember the details of the sexual acts because it was so long ago.

Eckhart agreed to make an audio recorded statement and again confessed to inappropriate sexual acts with three victims.

Eckhart said that these events occurred before he was 19, and agreed that they probably happened during his teenage years.

At 3 p.m. Jan. 3, De La Iglesia interviewed another victim by phone, who said she was inappropriately touched by Eckhart when she was much younger.

Eckhart faces charges of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and related charges.

He is free on $100,000 unsecured bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. March 13 before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford.