Jury clears man in Tamaqua sexual assault case

A Schuylkill County jury has cleared a Tamaqua man of charges in a 2017 sexual assault case.

Tamaqua Police filed charges against Travis Kyle Christman, 25, of Hunter St., Tamaqua, in connection with a reported sexual assault on Jan. 22.

The victim contacted police at 3:20 a.m. to report a sexual assault, telling officers she had been trying to help Christman through a rough time, speaking to him by cellphone multiple times in the early morning hours.

During one conversation, Christman was walking to her home. When he arrived, she went outside to speak with him. After a short conversation she turned to go back to her home. That's when he grabbed her and began kissing her.

In an attempt to get away from him, the victim broke a necklace he was wearing, which fell to the ground.

She was able to pull away, but he again grabbed her by the throat, pinned her against a wall and began kissing her and then sexually assaulted her.

She was able to break free, but he captured her again, this time pinning her against a parked truck. That's when they heard voices and Christman fled, running south toward Hazle Street.

He had been charged with indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault and simple assault.