A jury convicted a Lancaster City man of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl from her Indiana home after pursuing her online in December 2020.  Earlier this week, the jury found Andrew E. Holland, 39, guilty on all counts including felony kidnapping, unlawful contact with a minor, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, and aggravated indecent assault in addition to other charges. 

ADA Amy Muller presented evidence and called witnesses, including the teen, to testify during the three-day jury trial. Testimony revealed that the girl had been reported as a runaway by her family to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office in Indiana.  Indiana authorities found social media messages between the girl and the defendant.  After kidnapping the girl, Howland took her to two separate hotels in East and West Hempfield Township.  He was located in Lancaster County by local law enforcement after Indiana authorities obtained location data on the defendant's cell phone.      

ADA Amy Muller, in closing argument, called the defendant “every parent’s worst nightmare” noting that the defendant went to the family home, snatched their child and sexually abused her.  Howland testified in his own defense saying that he “saved” the child from her homelife.  ADA Muller called the defendant’s callous attitude and predatory behavior “chilling.”    

Judge Donald Totaro, who presided over the trial, scheduled sentencing for November 18, 2021.  After the verdict, Judge Totaro ordered that Howland be committed to Lancaster County Prison and increased bail to $15 million.  

Detective Sergeant George Brace of the West Hempfield Township Police Department and Detective Brent Shultz of the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office filed the charges.