Wed. Dec 18th, 2024
Occasional Digest - a story for you

Gerald Spoto, 41, of Bristol Township, Pa., faces new accusations that he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old-boy in 2021. Investigators believe he may have more unidentified victims. Photo courtesy Bucks County, Pa., District Attorney

Gerald Spoto, 41, of Bristol Township, Pa., faces new accusations that he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old-boy in 2021. Investigators believe he may have more unidentified victims. Photo courtesy Bucks County, Pa., District Attorney

Feb. 10 (UPI) — A Pennsylvania man who was already charged with sexually assaulting six boys is now facing charges of assaulting a seventh victim, authorities have announced.

Gerald Spoto, 41, of Bristol Township, Pa., was arraigned Friday on three felony accounts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related offenses, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s office.

He was already facing 274 felony counts of photographing or filming a child sex act and 275 counts of possession of child pornography stemming from acts that allegedly happened almost two decades ago while he was working at the Neshaminy Kids Club after-school program.

The new charges are in connection from Spoto’s alleged seventh victim, which prosecutors claim he began abusing in 2021 when the boy was 11 years old.

Investigators said they found hundreds of images of the now 13-year-old boy in Spoto’s possession in December while investigating the original charges.

Investigators said they met with the boy and his parents. During a forensic interview, they alleged boy told them Spoto sexually assaulted him dozens of times.

His parents told detectives he spent a significant amount of time with Spoto in his home and began exhibiting signs of depression about a year ago. They also said Spoto bought their son gifts, which investigators said is classic grooming behavior.

District Judge Terrance Hughes on Friday denied Spoto bail due to public safety and flight risk concerns.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy last month argued against reducing Spoto’s bail because he allegedly attempted to adopt a child recently.

Investigators believe there may be more unidentified victims and ask anyone with information to contact Middletown Township police at 215-750-3872, ext. 2215.

Source link