Aug 13, 2015 2 min read

The 8-year-old girl who Waynesburg police said was fondled by a convicted child molester in July testified at his preliminary hearing Thursday morning and detailed the alleged assault.

The girl described the incident July 4 inside a Waynesburg apartment and pointed to Benjamin Miller in the courtroom when asked to identify the man who assaulted her.

“She gave details and explained what happened,” Waynesburg police Officer George Lewis said about the preliminary hearing. “She testified to everything she told me.”

District Judge Lee Watson held Miller, 40, of Waynesburg, for trial on charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault and corruption of a minor. The district attorney’s office withdrew charges of statutory sex assault and sexual assault Miller previously faced upon his arrest.

Miller’s public defender, Harry Cancelmi, said he argued the aggravated indecent assault charge should be dismissed because of a lack of evidence, although Watson denied that motion. Cancelmi said Miller denies the charges and plans to plead not guilty.

Miller remains in Greene County jail on $250,000 bond. His formal arraignment has not been scheduled.

Police said Miller touched the girl’s genitals and chest while she was napping in her swimsuit on a couch in the apartment. Police said a couple that was babysitting the girl left Miller alone in the room with her despite knowing he was previously convicted of abusing children. Miller was convicted three times for separate incidents in the early 2000s and served 12 years in prison.

Lewis said police are still investigating whether the babysitters, who have not been identified, will face charges in the case since they left the girl in Miller’s care.