Man wanted for rape of minor arrested in Tamaqua – Times News Online

Published on September 5, 2024 at 1:48 p.m.

The Tamaqua Police Department assisted the U.S. Marshals Service in executing a warrant for an Allentown man wanted on child rape, human trafficking, sexual assault and other charges.

Tamaqua police said Joshua Mickey Martel, 31, was taken into custody Wednesday morning in the borough.

According to Lehigh County Prosecutor Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown police, Martel has been charged in two separate incidents, one involving a 12-year-old girl and the other a 13-year-old girl.

In the first case, the 12-year-old girl reported to her guardian on July 31 that her mother had sold her for money and drugs to Martel.

She told investigators that Martel took her and her siblings to a hotel in Allentown between April 23 and 24 and that they shared a room with Martel.

The victim told investigators she saw Martel give her mother money and drugs before leaving her alone in the hotel room with Martel.

She said Martel sexually and physically assaulted the victims. During the rape and assault, the victim said she tried to escape, but Martel wouldn't let her.

In that case, Allentown police charged Martel with statutory rape, statutory rape, statutory sexual assault, trafficking in persons and patronizing a victim of sexual servitude, all first-degree felonies; sexual assault, a second-degree felony; corruption of minors, a third-degree felony; and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault without consent and simple assault, both second-degree felonies.

In the case of the second victim, a school resource officer learned that the 13-year-old may have been staying at the same hotel as Martel.

Police said the girl was picked up after school on May 21 by an Uber and did not show up at school the next day.

Officers found the girl in Martel's hotel room and she told them Martel had sexually assaulted her.

Police charged him with statutory sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor, both first-degree felonies; and corruption of minors and child sexual abuse – possession of child pornography; both third-degree felonies.

After picking up Martel on Wednesday, Tamaqua officers transported Martel to the Tamaqua Police Department, where he was picked up by U.S. Marshals Service officers.

He was arraigned before Allentown Magisterial District Judge Michael D'Amore and bail was set at $500,000 for both cases. He was booked into the Lehigh County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.