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DNA match leads to arrest in 2009 Chesco rape

    by Kathleen Brady Shea, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
    Published 

More than two years ago, a 14-year-old girl was raped in Chester County, a case that went unsolved until a recent DNA match, authorities said today.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan and the Pennsylvania State Police filed rape, kidnapping, and related charges against Maynard G. Church, 38, formerly of Oxford.

Hogan said the assault occurred Sept. 27, 2009, in East Nottingham Township, where the girl lived. He said the teen was walking along Little Elk Creek Road when a stranger approached her, tried to engage her in conversation, and then grabbed her, forced her to the ground, and sexually assaulted her.

The victim gave state police from the Avondale barracks a physical description, but police were unable to locate the suspect, Hogan said, adding that investigators did get a DNA sample from the attack. On May 22, 2010, Church was arrested for an unrelated case and convicted Sept. 28, 2010, Hogan said.

Under state law, Church was required to submit a DNA sample to the central state DNA database, which was later determined to be a match in the 2009 case, Hogan said.

Court records show that Church is serving a two- to four-year prison term after pleading guilty to aggravated assault in 2010. Records also list prior convictions for drunken-driving and fleeing from police.

"Ten years ago, a case like this would not have been solved," said Hogan. "Today, the joint efforts of the Pennsylvania State Police and the District Attorney's office have resulted in the filing of charges and the case being one step closer to delivering justice for the victim of this terrible crime."

This case is assigned to Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Pitts of the Chester County District Attorney's Child Abuse Unit. A preliminary hearing date has not been set yet, according to court records.