Centre County Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Child

A Centre County man was arrested Tuesday on charges of sexually abusing a child on at least three occasions.

Joshua S. McCloskey, 24, of Howard, was charged after the child told investigators in January that the alleged assaults occurred between September 2024 and November 2025, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by state police at Rockview. The heavily redacted affidavit provided to reporters does not indicate the child’s age or gender.

The child told investigators that McCloskey penetrated, groped and kissed them against their will, according to the affidavit.

He made numerous sexual comments to the child, police wrote. On one occasion, he is accused of threatening to slap the child, who was afraid because he is “three times” their size, according to the affidavit.

McCloskey is charged with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child less than 16 years of age, statutory sexual assault of a minor eight to 11 years younger than the defendant, aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors, as well as two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

He was arraigned on Tuesday by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker and was unable to post $50,000 bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 20.