Jan. 7, 2025
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
An 80-year-old Bradford County resident, formerly of Whitehall Township, has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenager.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Capt. Seth J. Kelly of Pennsylvania State Police Troop M said today that Dennis Kochenash of Wyalusing Borough in Bradford County, formerly of Whitehall, is charged with multiple crimes involving sexual assaults that began in 2024, when the accuser was 14.
“Kochenash was taken into custody today in Bradford County and is awaiting extradition to Lehigh County,” Holihan and Kelly said in a joint statement.
“Kochenash and the victim began communicating with each other through text messages and on Snapchat,” according to the statement, and Kochenash provided the teenager with marijuana.
Anyone with information regarding the alleged conduct or similar conduct by Kochenash is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 610-395-1438.
Here’s the joint statement from Holihan and Kelly:
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
LEHIGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Gavin P. Holihan
District Attorney
Jan. 7, 2026
455 WEST HAMILTON STREET
ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 18101-1614
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Capt. Seth J. Kelly, Pennsylvania State Police Troop M.
Commanding Officer announce an 80-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a teen in locations in both Lehigh and Bradford counties.
Dennis Kochenash, DOB 5/16/1945, currently of Wyalusing Borough in Bradford County, is charged with several felony counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse – Person Less than 16 Years Old; Statutory Sexual Assault: Corruption of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or above and several misdemeanor counts of Corruption of Minors and Indecent Assault of a Person Less than 16 Years Old.
Prior to living in Bradford County, Kochenash resided in Whitehall in Lehigh County for many years. Kochenash was taken into custody today in Bradford County and is awaiting extradition to Lehigh County.
On Oct. 27, 2025, Pennsylvania State Police in Fogelsville received a ChildLine report of a victim who was 14 at the time the offenses began in 2024.
Kochenash and the victim were known to each other prior to the allegations. The investigation revealed Kochenash and the victim began communicating with each other through text messages and on Snapchat.
The investigation revealed that the contact continued for several months; including online
communication, in-person communication and eventually the sexual assaults against the child.
The investigation also revealed that in December 2024, Kochenash sexually assaulted the victim on several occasions and provided the victim with marijuana. The assaults took place in both Bradford County and in Lehigh County at the victim’s home.
As per agreement with the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County District
Attorney’s Office will investigate and prosecute the crimes that occurred in both counties.
This investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information regarding the alleged conduct or similar conduct by Kochenash is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 610-395-1438.
This case was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Seth A. Heffner and will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach. We also extend our appreciation to the work of the Bradford County District Attorney’s Office.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed are
merely accusations; and the accused, Dennis Kochenash, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 