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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Trucksville volunteer firefighter pleaded guilty to two charges of statutory sexual assault Tuesday.</p><p>Joshua James Ralston, 20, of Dallas, entered the guilty plea before Luzerne County Judge David W. Lupas. Eight remaining counts were withdrawn.</p><p>Ralston was accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl at her home in December 2016 and February 2017 when the girl&#8217;s mother was out of the house.</p><p>The girl, now 14, told police she knew Ralston previously, and got reacquainted with him when she became a junior firefighter.</p><p>Ralston, who was 19 at the time of the alleged incidents, admitted to police he had sex with the girl, telling them she &#8220;wanted it as much as (he) did.&#8221;</p><p>Ralston initially faced a total of 12 felonies. Two counts of aggravated indecent assault were withdrawn at the district court level.</p><p>Lupas set Ralston&#8217;s sentencing for Feb. 6. The judge also modified the terms of his bail, allowing him to have contact with his siblings who are minors.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ralston </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/web1_Ralston.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ralston </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trucksville firefighter pleads guilty to having sex with 13-year-old