A Walnutport man is facing multiple felony charges after police said DNA evidence and a victim’s account linked him to the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

According to court documents filed by Sgt. Jonathan Roth of the Lehigh Township Police Department, the alleged assault occurred during the overnight hours of March 22-23, 2025, at a home in the 4600 block of Timberline Road, Walnutport.

Police said the girl, who was staying overnight with relatives, reported that Austin Michael Kern assaulted her while other adults in the home were asleep.

She disclosed the alleged assault to her mother after being picked up the following day, and the incident was reported to police on March 23.

The child underwent a sexual assault examination at St. Luke’s Hospital, and evidence collected during the investigation was submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab. Police also executed search warrants at the residence and later obtained a DNA sample from Kern.

According to investigators, DNA testing identified genetic material found on the victim’s clothing that was 76 million times more likely to have originated from Kern than from an unrelated individual. Additional testing found that neither Kern nor any paternally related male relatives could be excluded as contributors.

Kern, 26, is charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, corruption of minors and simple assault.

He remains in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6 before District Judge Robert A. Hawke in Walnutport.

According to published sources, Kern is a 911 dispatcher in Lehigh County.