Butler man accused of raping girl over 6 years was someone she ‘relied on’
A 17-year-old girl testified she felt a “shift” in the man who was someone she “relied on” at the time of the incidents leading to sexual assault charges against him.
Joshua James Driskell, 23, of Butler, is accused of sexually assaulting her multiple times over a period of six years, including while babysitting her.
Driskell listened to the girl testify about the sexual assaults she claims occurred from when she was about 9 to about 15 years old, most recently in January 2025, at a preliminary hearing Monday, Nov. 10, 2026.
The girl testified the assaults began when Driskell was babysitting the her when she was 9 years old. Driskell was also a minor at the time.
The girl said the two were wrestling and she was on top of Driskell when he pulled both their pants down and committed sexual acts. She testified sexual acts occurred “every other day” when he was babysitting her that summer.
She also said Driskell had control over her while babysitting her and would do things the girl didn’t like if she did not allow the sexual acts.
Other sexual acts occurred at different houses in Butler and at a camp, the girl said.
Defense attorney Joel Lansing Hills argued the criminal complaint mentioned specific incidents and details the girl could not recall during testimony. He said the girl could not recall the dates and time periods when she said the incidents occurred or the specific events that led to them.
District Judge William Fullerton dismissed felony counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child and indecent assault. Felony charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and misdemeanor indecent exposure for court.
Assistant district attorney Andrew Calve represented the district attorney’s office.
Driskell’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. Dec. 29 in Butler County Common Pleas Courtroom 2.
