A 48-year-old Tyrone man has been bound over for trial in the Blair County Court of Common Pleas after a preliminary hearing earlier this week.
In August, Hollidaysburg State Police said John William Baird allegedly engaged in sexual activity with the victim several times between June 23 and August 18 at a residence on Gypsy Camp Hollow Road in Snyder Township and at a pull-off area off of State Route 4027 (old Route 220), near the Grazierville exit in Antis Township.
Baird was arraigned in late August before Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner on charges of rape of a child less than 13, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and selling and furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors. Aigner’s office said the victim was a 12-year-old girl. Baird was committed to Blair County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail.
Around the time of his arraignment, a preliminary hearing was scheduled for the following week before Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller. However, the hearing was continued twice.
Baird had been rescheduled for a hearing in mid-September. However, that hearing was continued when the prosecutor handling the case requested the move. Judge Miller said prosecutor Deanne Paul had a scheduling conflict due to another case in Blair County Court. Baird did appear before Miller later in the month. At the time, the suspect was in the process of working out issues on whether he would use a private attorney or public defender. Eventually, Baird hired a private attorney. Judge Miller said Baird was represented by Ebensburg lawyer Dave Beyer.
At Baird’s preliminary hearing on Tuesday, he was bound over for trial on all charges based on the evidence presented at the hearing. Baird asked for a bail reduction, but the request was denied. He was remanded to Blair County Prison. Baird is now scheduled for a formal arraignment in Blair County Court on Nov. 4.
