Man Sentenced For Stalking, Groping Girl On SEPTA Bus In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —A Philadelphia man has been sentenced for stalking and groping a 17-year-old girl while she was on a SEPTA bus headed to the Neshaminy Mall, police said.

Bensalem Police said Elmange Watson, 27, of Philadelphia, was sentenced on Monday to the Bucks County Correctional Facility for the crimes.

Watson was found guilty in August of stalking, corruption of minors and indecent assault, and two counts of harassment following a waiver trial before Common Pleas Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr.

On Monday, Bateman sentenced Watson to 11 ½ to 23 months in county jail and five years of probation.

Bensalem Police responded on Jan. 22, 2023, to the Neshaminy Mall to investigate a report of a 17-year-old girl who was stalked and groped on a bus.

The victim told police she boarded a SEPTA bus at 10:30 a.m. that day at the Frankford Terminal in Philadelphia to get to her job at the mall.

Watson followed the girl onto the bus and sat down next to her, so close that his body was touching hers.

The victim told police she did not know Watson, and there were other seats available where Watson could have sat.

During the duration of the 45-minute bus ride, Watson groped the victim multiple times, police said.

When the bus arrived at the Neshaminy Mall, Watson exited the bus next to the victim. He continued to harass her in the mall and only left when the victim’s boss appeared, police said.