HUGHESVILLE — Following a preliminary hearing last week before District Judge Kirsten Gardner, 12 state police felony counts against Alex Kenneth Horn were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. The judge threw out four counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and indecent assault. However, Gardner ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Horn, 30, of 152 Boak Ave., on one count each of the three felony offenses as well as one count each of corrupting the morals of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child, both additional felonies. Court records allege Horn sexually molested a child under 10 last month in Wolf Township. Horn remains incarcerated in lieu of $250,000 bail.

In another case, this one brought before District Judge Gary Whiteman, all charges against Johnathon Pedraza were withdrawn last week after the victim told investigators that she did not want to pursue the matter in court. Pedraza. 34, of 418 Third Ave., had been jailed on Montoursville police charges of strangulation and simple assault, but those charges have since been dropped and he has been released.

In another case, state police dropped all felony charges against Michael K. Vordjorge, 30, of Henrico, Virginia, after deciding this week not to pursue the matter. Arrested last month on charges of theft, identity theft and related offenses, Vordjorge was implicated for allegedly participating in a check-cashing scheme in October 2023 that involved bogus checks that were deposited at a Loyalsock Township bank branch office, according to court records.