ROSS TOWNSHIP (KDKA) – A 19-year-old man accused of raping a 3-year-old girl will stand trial.

Jeffery Neel waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.

“Our detectives did interview Mr. Neel and he did admit to a number of acts with the child,” Ross Township Police Detective Brian Kohlhepp said.

The alleged assault happened at his sister-in-law’s house on Jacks Run Road in Ross Township.

She was babysitting the 3-year-old victim and two other children when she asked Neel to watch them for a half an hour while she ran an errand.

That’s when the alleged acts took place.

A judge reduced Neel’s bond from $75,000 to $25,000. If he makes bond, he won’t be back on the streets.

“His bond was reduced to allow him the opportunity to go to a mental institution and he did disclose that he has some mental health issues,” Kohlhepp said. “The judge did make it a condition of that bond that if he does make bond he has to go directly to a mental health institution.”

Meantime, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape is working with the victim and her family.

“We involve PAAR in all of our sex assault cases,” Kohlhepp said.

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