WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A junior firefighter is accused of indecently assaulting a 14-year-old girl at the Haunted Parkway event in Whitehall Township earlier this month.
Authorities charged Koda Gaffney, 21, of Allentown, with felony corruption of minors; indecent assault, a misdemeanor; misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors; misdemeanor charges of selling/furnishing liquor/malt/brewed beverages; and sale of tobacco to a minor, a summary charge, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The township’s Human Resources department and fire officials notified police on Oct. 13 about the potential assault, the DA’s office said.
After an investigation, authorities determined that Gaffney assaulted the girl Oct. 3 at the Whitehall Township Fire Department’s annual Haunted Parkway event held on the 4600 block of South Church Street, according to the DA’s office.
The DA’s office said the girl told police Gaffney inappropriately touched her and kissed her while at the event.
The girl said she tried to push him away, but he continued to touch her, the DA’s office said.
The DA’s office said Gaffney gave the girl alcohol and a nicotine vape while she was seated alone in the back of a vehicle.
Gaffney kissed her and inappropriately touched her while they were inside the vehicle, according to the news release.
Police identified two other juvenile victims who said Gaffney also provided them with alcohol, according to the DA’s office.
Township Fire Chief Mark Bilder announced on Oct. 15 that the Haunted Parkway event was cancelled for the remainder of the 2026 season “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The fire department did not give the specific reason for the closure at the time.
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