Downingtown man charged for sex with underage girl

WEST WHITELAND » Police arrested a Downingtown man for allegedly having sex with a minor in the parking lot of the Exton Square Mall.

The West Whiteland Township Police Department announced that Misael Romero, 21, of Downingtown, was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse of children, statutory sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault. The charges were filed Jan. 3 following an investigation that began on Dec. 5, 2017.

Through the investigation, police said it was alleged that Romero had sexual contact with a 15-year-old female on five separate occasions starting around October 2017. The incidents allegedly occurred in Romero’s car, which was parked in the parking lot of the Exton Square Mall, or he was in the dressing rooms of two stores located inside the mall, according to police.

Police said it was also alleged that Romero used his cell phone to record some of the acts. The cell phone was seized as evidence and photos and video of the minor were reportedly found on the phone, according to police.

Romero was arraigned on Wednesday by Magisterial District Justice John Bailey, of Exton. Hewas released on an unsecured $100,000 cash bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25, according to his online criminal report.