A Hazle Township man was jailed on charges he sexually assaulted a child beginning from the time she was 7 years old until she was 14.

Tamaqua police charged Andres Blasteyo Figueroa, 45, with criminal attempt-rape of a child; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 13; indecent exposure; criminal attempt-rape forcible compulsion; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16; aggravated indecent assault of a child; indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

According to police, officers received a call from a woman who said that a girl, who is now 16, had been assaulted by Blasteyo Figueroa beginning when she was about 7. The victim lived in New Jersey at that time but moved to Tamaqua in 2020 when she was 11 and the abuse continued.

The victim told investigators that Blasteyo Figueroa started touching her inappropriately when she was 7, which progressed to sexual contact.

She said when the abuse was happening she would lie down and pretend to be asleep.

She told investigators that the abuse occurred almost daily when she lived in Tamaqua. She believed the abuse stopped about two years ago.

Blasteyo Figueroa was arraigned on the charges Monday before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer who set bail at $50,000. He was unable to post bail and was sent to the Schuylkill County Prison.