Police: Chester County man fondled child he brought to US
WEST GOSHEN >> Authorities say a West Goshen man paid thousands of dollars to bring a family to the United States from overseas and then began sexually molesting one of them — a pre-teen girl — over a period of three years.
The man, an auto repair mechanic who worked in Coatesville, was arrested on Friday and charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse after an investigation by West Goshen police and the Chester County Detectives.
The defendant, 38, of West Chester Pike, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Marian Vito of West Chester and held on $350,000 cash bail, which he failed to post and was taken to Chester County Prison.
MediaNews Group is withholding the name of the defendant in order to protect the identity of the alleged victim, who lived at the man’s home with her family.
Charges filed against the man include aggravated indecent assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal use of a communications facility, indecent assault, corruption of minors, terroristic threats and related counts.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan, whose office will prosecute the case, expressed praise for the police investigators for their work, as well as the alleged victim herself.
“The courage and bravery shown by this little girl is remarkable,” Ryan said in a statement to the press. “We are extremely grateful to the West Goshen Police Department and our Chester County Detectives for their quick response in protecting her and our community.
“We have declared a war on child abuse, and any perpetrators in Chester County will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Ryan, who before her election as D.A. headed the office’s Child Abuse Unit. “Enough is enough.”
In a criminal complaint filed by West Goshen Detective Jose Torres, the man is said to have acknowledged fondling the girl over a period of years — at least six times — and taking photos of his genitals and sending them to the girl by phone on social media.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 19 before Magisterial District Judge Martin Goch of West Goshen.
According to the affidavit prepared by Torres, the alleged abuse was reported to Chester County Detectives on Friday. In an interview at the Chester County Child Advocacy Center in the county Justice Center, the victim who is now 10 years old, said that she and her mother and sister came to the United States in early 2018 from Honduras.
The girl, who was 7 years old at the time, told investigators that the man — who she referred to as her “stepfather” — paid $13,000 to have the family brought to the country illegally. It was not clear what relationship he actually had with the family.
The girl, whose name was not included in the affidavit, said that less than two weeks after her arrival in the country, the man began to touch her breasts and genitals. The incidents took place at her home in the township, she said.
The alleged abuse started in April 2018 and continued on at least seven occasions until his arrest. The man would fondle her breasts and genitals, and on two occasions sent her photos of his penis via the “WhatsApp” function on the internet. Several times, she said, he asked her if she would touch his genitals. She said she refused.
At some point, the man allegedly threatened the girl, saying that if she told anyone he was “going to kill her father,” according to Torres’ affidavit.
West Goshen police and county detectives went to the auto shop in Coatesville where the man worked and took him into custody on Friday, the day the girl came forward with her allegations. Torres said that in an interview with police at the township police station, the man acknowledged fondling the girl, and sending her several images of his genitals.