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Hazleton man waives hearing in alleged necklace theft that led to shooting

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Our view: St. Patrick’s parades earn our praise

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; When a 13-year-old girl slipped out of her city residence in the middle of the night to meet up with Tawuan Tyshawn Hill, he says he had no idea about her exact age.</p><p>Hill, 23, allegedly told police he asked the girl how old she was. He claimed she told him, &#8220;I&#8217;m old enough.&#8221;</p><p>Hill&#8217;s statement to police Det. Christopher Maciejczyk on June 26 was introduced during a preliminary hearing before District Judge Matthew Christopher on Friday.</p><p>Despite arguments from his attorney about the teen herself not testifying, the case against Hill was sent to county court.</p><p>Police say Hill, also known as &#8220;Gudda Bucks,&#8221; had sex with the girl inside a West Ross Street apartment June 22. The girl&#8217;s mother reported the alleged incident four days later.</p><p>Maciejczyk testified on behalf of the girl, now 14, over the objection of Hill&#8217;s attorney, Mark Hinrichs.</p><p>Hinrichs argued Maciejczyk&#8217;s testimony is &#8220;hearsay&#8221; but Judge Christopher said he was compelled to accept it due to a recent state Supreme Court ruling, Commonwealth v. Ricker. That ruling allows &#8220;hearsay testimony alone&#8221; to establish a case at the preliminary hearing level.</p><p>Maciejczyk testified the girl reported meeting Hill on Facebook and after a few conversations, she agreed to meet him in person at the Hazle Street Turkey Hill store. The girl left her residence about 2 a.m. June 22, met Hill at the store, and walked back to his apartment on West Ross Street where they had sex, authorities say.</p><p>Maciejczyk testified the girl later told her mother, who confronted Hill at his apartment June 26. Police responded to the disturbance at the apartment, where the mother reported the alleged incident involving her daughter, Maciejczyk testified.</p><p>Hill gave police a statement indicating he asked the girl her age but she told him only, &#8220;I&#8217;m old enough.&#8221;</p><p>Hinrichs argued the girl went willingly and was not coerced to walk to Hill&#8217;s apartment.</p><p>Christopher ruled Maciejczyk established a case against Hill, sending charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors to county court.</p><p>Hill remains free on $10,000 unsecured bail, which means he didn&#8217;t have to post any money for his release.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Teen-sex charges against WB man sent to county court