An 80-year-old Bradford County man is accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in 2024, when he lived in Lehigh County, according to authorities.
Dennis Kochenash, 80, of Wyalusing, was arrested Wednesday in Bradford County, and faces charges alleging he assaulted a 14-year-old, according to a new release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan. The incidents occurred in both Lehigh and Bradford counties, authorities allege.
Kochenash faces felony offenses of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of someone younger than 16, statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, as well as misdemeanor offenses of corruption of minors and indecent assault of someone younger than 16. He is awaiting extradition to Lehigh County.
The offenses were reported to state police in October, according to authorities.
Police said Kochenash and the victim knew each other before the assaults, and that investigators found that the two had contacted each other through text messages and on the social media platform Snapchat, as well as in person.
In December 2024, Kochenash allegedly assaulted the teen on multiple occasions, and gave them marijuana, the DA said.
The Lehigh DA’s office is prosecuting the alleged assaults that happened in both counties. Kochenash lived in Whitehall Township for several years before moving to Bradford County, the DA said.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information related to the alleged incidents is asked to contact police at 610-395-1438.