Man jailed for indecent contact with underage girls

NORRISTOWN » A Cheltenham man who turned himself in to police, confessing to have indecent contact with two underage girls, is on his way to prison.

William A. Tucker, 60, of the 100 block of Marvin Road, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to three to six years in a state correctional facility on two felony charges of aggravated indecent assault in connection with multiple incidents that occurred between 2015 and 2017. Judge Wendy G. Rothstein also ordered Tucker to complete five years’ probation following parole, meaning Tucker will be under court supervision for 11 years.

The judge convicted Tucker of the charges during a non-jury trial at which Tucker stipulated to facts contained in an affidavit of probable cause filed by Cheltenham detectives.

Rothstein said Tucker is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with minors during the course of his court supervision. Tucker is not permitted within 1,000 feet of any school or playground, the judge said.

The judge added Tucker is prohibited from having any contact with the victims and cannot attend the same church as the victims when he is released from prison.

An investigation of Tucker began on June 2, 2017, when Tucker arrived at the police station in Cheltenham and reported that he had had indecent contact with two underage girls over the course of several years, according to a criminal complaint filed by Cheltenham Detective John Barr.

“I am here to turn myself in,” Tucker allegedly told detectives at that time, explaining he had touched the girls inappropriately.

The ensuing investigation determined the inappropriate contact occurred while the girls were in Tucker’s company at various times between 2015 and 2017 in Cheltenham. The girls were interviewed by detectives and confirmed the inappropriate touching incidents had occurred.

Prosecutors alleged Tucker touched the girls in an indecent manner for his sexual gratification.

Court documents indicate Tucker went to police with his confession a day after the victims disclosed the inappropriate conduct to another adult.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Beeson. Tucker was represented by defense lawyer Nicholas Reifsnyder.