Crime & Safety

Police: Man Raped Juvenile, Threatened Group with Knife in Schuylkill Township

Matthew Hoch, 22, of Schuylkill Township, faces a preliminary hearing Thursday in District Court.

What started as a joke turned into a serious situation after police say a 22-year-old Schuylkill Township man raped a juvenile victim, threatened a group with a knife and provided alcohol to minors.  

Matthew Hoch, 22, of Edwin Drive in Schuylkill Township, faces charges stemming from alleged events on July 14 in a home in the unit block of Adamson Court.

According to the criminal complaint, Hoch “had been jokingly” invited to the residence by a female juvenile who believed him to be 17 years old. Police say Hoch got a ride to the residence and brought along alcohol.

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After swimming and drinking with the juvenile victim and her friends, the criminal complaint alleges that Hoch led the girl inside to a bathroom, where he took off her clothes.

“[The] juvenile victim told Hoch no several times,” the complaint states. “Hoch proceeded to rape [the] juvenile victim.”

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According to police, the girl fled out of the home, and Hoch tried kissing her. The group asked Hoch to leave, according to court papers, and he then grabbed a beer bottle, smashed it and threatened the girl and her friends.

“He pulled out a pocket knife and said he was going to kill them all,” the criminal complaint states.

When he went back inside to grab his wallet, Hoch fell asleep on the couch, according to police. The victim and her friends took away his knife and took off Hoch’s shoes “so he couldn’t leave the residence,” the complaint says.

“When Hoch awoke, he became angry and started throwing things and yelling at the juvenile victim and her friends because he believed they stole his possessions,” the complaint states.

At that point, the victim called 911. When an officer responded on July 14, he noticed Hoch throwing things and yelling in the residence.

Hoch was arrested and is in Chester County Prison. He was unable to post $35,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for July 21 at 10 a.m. before District Judge Theodore Michaels in Phoenixville.

Hoch is charged with felony aggravated assault. He also faces misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, corruption of minors, criminal trespass, possessing instruments of crime, reckless endangerment, harassment, defiant trespass, disorderly conduct and providing alcohol to minors. 


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