Phoenixville man admits to sexual assault of teen

NORRISTOWN » As potential jurors were waiting in the wings to be selected for his trial, a Phoenixville man decided to plead guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old Upper Dublin girl he met via social media applications.

George Peter Waghorn, 41, of the first block of Nutt Road, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Tuesday to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of someone under 16 and sexual assault without consent in connection with

incidents that occurred between July and November 2017 in Upper Dublin. Waghorn was 40 at the time of the incidents and the girl was 13 and 14.

The open plea means Waghorn has no deals with prosecutors regarding his potential punishment. Essentially, Waghorn threw himself at the mercy of sentencing Judge Steven T. O’Neill.

“You put it in my hands. There is serious exposure here and you see that?” O’Neill questioned Waghorn.

“Yes, your honor,” Waghorn replied.

Waghorn faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 to 50 years in state prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for a lesser sentence.

Waghorn, who is represented by defense lawyer Brendan Campbell, will remain in the county jail without bail while awaiting sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Marvel said she will seek a lengthy state prison term against Waghorn.

“This is a man who at 40 years old preyed on a child, who identified her weaknesses and used them to gain her compliance and to use her for his sexual gratification,” Marvel said. “He knew when he was speaking to her on social media that he was speaking to a 13-year-old girl and he exploited that in order to sexually

assault her.”

The girl was in court with her parents and was prepared to testify against Waghorn had he gone to trial.

“This child is exceedingly brave. When she came forward she wasn’t just coming forward for herself she was coming forward to make sure that no one else would be victimized by this man in the same way. She exhibited tremendous courage,” Marvel said.

The investigation determined Waghorn began an online conversation with the Upper Dublin girl in April 2017 on Whisper, an anonymous social networking app. At some point, Waghorn suggested they switch over to a different app, KIK, and the conversations became sexual in nature, according to a criminal complaint filed by Upper Dublin Detective Mike Scarpato.

During the conversations, Waghorn asked for naked photos of the victim, who complied, and he sent her a sexually explicit photo, according to the criminal complaint. The girl said she did tell Waghorn that she was not of legal age.

The girl told detectives that she met with Waghorn on three occasions, two that included sexual contact.

On the first occasion, Waghorn met the girl at Veterans Park on Highland Avenue in Ambler and they sat on a bench and walked the track of the park together, court documents alleged. Waghorn told the girl he wanted to do something but she said “No,” detectives said.

“The male gave her marijuana

which she smoked. He pleaded with her to stay since he drove 30 minutes for this,” Scarpato alleged in the arrest affidavit.

The second and third meetings occurred between June and August 2017 late at night in a wooded area off Creek Road, where Waghorn had sexual contact with the girl, according to the criminal complaint. During the third meeting, the girl told Waghorn to “stop” the contact but he continued without her consent, according to the criminal complaint.

“He then thanked the victim and kissed her without consent before the male left,” Scarpato alleged.

The girl and her mother gave detectives permission to search the girl’s social media accounts and detectives were able to link the conversations she had with Waghorn to his Phoenixville address.

Waghorn continued to reach out to the girl between Oct. 14 and Nov. 1 and during those conversations he asked the girl for photos and videos and sent her a video of himself blowing her a kiss, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim, with police knowledge, arranged to meet Waghorn again at a park on Nov. 1, where he was immediately taken into custody by authorities.

At the time of the incident, Waghorn was a Guatemalan immigrant who was living in Phoenixville legally. However, now that he has been convicted of a crime he potentially faces deportation from the U.S. after he serves his prison sentence.