A Pennsylvania man who works as a 911 dispatcher is facing multiple charges after police said he sexually assaulted a young girl while she was trying to sleep. <\/p>\n
Austin Kern, who was 24 at the time of the alleged assault, works as a Lehigh County 911 dispatcher, according to sources.<\/p>\n
The 11-year-old girl was staying at her grandmother’s home in Lehigh Township when Kern woke her up while holding a sharp metal object against her neck, according to court documents.<\/p>\n
Investigators said Kern then moved the girl from a recliner to a sofa, where he sexually assaulted her.<\/p>\n
The girl told her mother what happened after being picked up from the home on March 23, 2025. She was later taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for a sexual assault evaluation, and investigators collected evidence from the home.<\/p>\n
According to the criminal complaint, DNA testing linked Kern to the crime.<\/p>\n
Kern faces charges of rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a child, corruption of minors and simple assault. He was arraigned Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. in Allentown.<\/p>\n
Online court documents don’t list an attorney who could speak on Kern’s behalf. <\/p>\n