An Effort man has been charged with the indecent assault of a teenager. According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Leo Petrucci of the Pennsylvania State Police - Lehighton barracks in the case against Joseph Hovan:

On May 15, a report was made of suspected child abuse of a 17-year-old female, with Hovan, 25, as the suspect.

On May 20, the victim was interviewed at the Geisinger Children’s Advocacy Center in Sunbury. She said she had sexual contact with Hovan, who was 24.

The sexual contact between the victim and Hovan occurred between December 2019 and May at a home in Polk Township. The victim said that Hovan raped her and forced her to do sexual acts.

On June 10, Petrucci interviewed Hovan regarding the investigation. Hovan described the acts as unprotected intercourse, and said that he initiated the first sexual contact with the victim, but denied ever completing the act because of their ages and said that he was worried because he believed that having sex with the victim would be prohibited statutorily due to their difference in age.

Hovan admitted that he sent the victim a picture of his private area via Facebook messenger.

Hovan faces charges of aggravated indecent assault; unlawful contact with minor; sexual assault; obscene/sexual material; corruption of minors; endangering welfare of children; and indecent assault.

He is currently incarcerated in the Monroe County Prison in lieu of $10,000 monetary bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Sept. 11 before District Judge Colleen Mancuso of Brodheadsville.