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A Lancaster County man has been found guilty for the Dec. 2020 kidnapping of a girl from her home in Indiana, according to court documents and a release by the Lancaster County district attorney's office.
Andrew E. Howland, 39, lured the girl from her home after pursuing her online, according to police.
The young accuser testified during the three-day long trial, according to a release by the Lancaster County district attorney's office.
During her testimony it was revealed that she had been reported as a runaway by her family to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana shortly after she was kidnapped from her home, according to the DA's release.
While Indiana authorities were investigating what they thought was the case of a runaway, they found social media messages between the girl and the defendant, according to the release.
Howland took her to two separate hotels in West Hempfield Township, according to authorities.
Indiana authorities obtained location data on the defendant's cell phone and worked with local police in Lancaster County to apprehend him, police said at the time.
Howland was described as “every parent’s worst nightmare,” by ADA Amy Muller during her closing argument, according to the release.
Muller reminded the jury that the defendant went to the family home, snatched their child and sexually abused her.
Howland testified in his own defense saying that he believed he was "saving" the child from her home life, according to the release.
Muller called the defendant’s callous attitude and predatory behavior “chilling," as stated in the release.
Howland was found guilty of the following, according to court documents:
- F1 Kidnapping of Minor - Facilitate Felony/Flight
- F1 Unlawful Contact With Minor - Sexual Offenses
- F1 Inboluntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse With Person Less Than 16 Years Age
- F1 Statutory Sexual Assault: 11 Years Older 12
- F2 Aggravated Indecent Assault - Complaintant Less Than 16
- M2 Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Years Age
- Child Pornography (4 Counts)
- F3 Criminal Use Of Communication Facility
Detective Sergeant George Brace of the West Hempfield Township Police Department and Detective Brent Shultz of the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office filed the charges, according to the release by the Lancaster County district attorney's office.
The sentencing has been scheduled with Judge Donald Totaro on Nov. 18, according to court documents.
Howland has been be committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $15 million, according to the district attorney.
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