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WILKES-BARRE — A request to modify bail for a jailed Nanticoke man charged with sexually assaulting a girl for several years was denied.
Jason Buchanan, through defense attorney Michael Butera, sought to reduce his $500,000 bail, calling it excessive.
Luzerne County Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. denied the request Wednesday.
Buchanan, 36, has been jailed since his arrest by Nanticoke police on Jan. 28 on allegations he sexually assaulted a girl for nearly seven years. His wife, Evalynn Buchanan, 35, was charged with child endangerment. Police say she knew her husband was abusive toward the girl but failed to protect her.
According to criminal complaints:
The girl was examined at the Luzerne County Child Advocacy Center in December when she told a therapist Jason Buchanan was “sexually using her.” Whenever he approached the girl, she would ask if he had to assault her, and Jason Buchanan would reply, “Yes, we have to.”
When Evalynn Buchanan confronted her husband, she accepted his excuses and failed to protect the girl.
Jason Buchanan told his wife he could not stop because the girl is beautiful.
A preliminary hearing for Jason Buchanan on charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors is scheduled for Feb. 23.
Evalynn Buchanan waived her right to a preliminary hearing Feb. 6, sending two counts of endangering the welfare of children to county court. Her bail was reduced from $500,000 straight to 10 percent of $500,000, meaning she will need to pay $50,000 to be released from the county lockup.
