A Palmerton man has been charged with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Kevin Buck of the Palmerton Borough Police Department in the case against Bret Hoffman:

Hoffman was contacted on Sept. 13 by a Pennsylvania State Police trooper who said that on Sept. 10, he was dispatched to a residence in North Newtown Township to speak with a female, who informed him that her 13-year-old daughter disclosed that her relative, Hoffman, 63, had touched her inappropriately when she was 8 years old.

Trooper Masci spoke briefly with the victim, who told her that Hoffman had touched her in the office room of his residence in the 500 block of Mauch Chunk Road sometime over the summer when she was 8.

The victim informed her mother of this on Sept. 10 when they were speaking about secrets. At that time, Masci had made arrangements for the victim to be interviewed by the C.A.C. in Franklin County.

During this interview, the victim disclosed that while at Hoffman’s home, he assaulted her.

The victim said she did not know where anyone else in the home was, and that she told Hoffman to stop, but he wouldn’t.

The victim further stated that Hoffman never mentioned this incident, nor tried to talk to her about it after it occurred.

On Sept. 24, Buck viewed the video of the C.A.C. interview and found it to be consistent with all the accusations made, as well as the synopsis received from Masci.

Buck contacted Hoffman to set up an interview, and after originally agreeing to come in and speak with Buck, Hoffman then called back and canceled the interview in order to obtain legal counsel.

Hoffman faces charges of aggravated indecent assault; indecent assault; and corruption of minors.

Hoffman was video arraigned by District Judge William J. Kissner, and is currently free in lieu of $250,000 unsecured bail, with the conditions that Hoffman must report to Carbon County Adult Probation for referral services and monitoring; must have a no contact provision with the alleged victim; and must have no contact with the alleged victim’s immediate family.

He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Oct. 27 before Kissner.