A Tamaqua man has been charged with assault stemming from a December 2023 incident involving a 5-year-old girl.
According to an affidavit filed by Tamaqua police, Christopher Miano-Wilburn was extradited from Ohio to Schuylkill County over the weekend, where he was arraigned before District Magistrate James Reiley on Sunday.
Reiley remanded Miano-Wilburn to Schuylkill County Prison on $75,000 bail, which hasn’t been posted.
Investigation Details
Back in late-December 2023, Tamaqua Police reeived a report of an alleged sexual assault victim at St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale.
The mother of the child told police she believed her daughter was the victim of a sexual assault and named Miano-Wilburn as the prime suspect.
In the early stage of the investigation, police learned from the mother that her daughter explained how Miano-Wilburn touched her inappropriately that morning while he waited with her before sending her off to school.
On that morning, the mother had taken two of her other children to an eye doctor appointment. Miano-Wilburn was a house guest of the girl’s mother and husband and was charged with sending the girl off to school.
Miano-Wilburn and the alleged victim were alone together for about 35 minutes, police learned.
It was not until later that same night that the girl spoke up about what she said had happened prior to school that day.
The mother’s husband, who learned of the accusation, allegedly confronted Miano-Wilburn about what was said. Miano-Wilburn reportedly denied having touch the girl inappropriately, instead saying he was speaking with his girlfriend on the phone when the incident was alleged to have happened.
A forensic interview of the victim was conducted on Jan. 5, 2024, in Allentown. During that interview, the girl allegedly identified Miano-Wilburn as her attacker and said the incident happened while she was sitting on the couch prior to school and watching TV.
The girl allegedly said during this forensic interview that after Miano-WIlburn had touched her inappropriately, he then started playing with his phone and watching YouTube. Investigators say the girl never indicated how she knew Miano-Wilburn was watching YouTube, specifically.
Police say DNA evidence was collected from the girl’s clothing and from Miano-Wilburn. It showed that the DNA from Miano-Wilburn or any of his male relatives was found on the victim’s clothing.
On July 25, Miano-Wilburn was in an extradition hearing in Ohio. He waived extradtion and Tamaqua Police traveled to Conneaut Police Dept. there to collect him.
Miano-Wilburn is now facing charges of first-degree felony aggravated indecent assault of a child, second-degree felony aggravated indecent assault without consent, second-degree felony aggravated indecent assault of a person under 13 years old, and third-degree felony indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old.
Bail was posted at $75,000, which hasn’t been posted. Miano-Wilburn is due back before District Magistrate Stephen Bayer for a Preliminary Hearing on Aug. 6.
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