Montco Man Found Guilty Of Sexually Assaulting Underage Girl

UPPER PROVIDENCE, PA — A local man who had withdrawn a guilty plea in connection with the sexual assault of an underage girl has now been found guilty by a Montgomery County judge during a bench trial in the criminal case.

Richard Alan Beener, Sr., of the Mont Clare section of Upper Providence Township, was convicted by Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Thomas Rogers earlier this week on felony child rape counts, according to court records and local media reports.

Beener had pleaded guilty late last year in connection with the crimes, but he subsequently withdrew those pleas and instead opted to take his chances at trial.

On Monday, during a non-jury trial, Rogers found Beener guilty of child rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, and aggravated indecent assault of a child, all felonies, court records show.

Beener was also convicted on misdemeanor accounts of indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

Beener, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, was arrested by Upper Providence police back in early 2019 after allegations surfaced that he sexually abused a woman back between 2003 and 2009 when she was between the ages of 6 and 12, according to a report in the Mercury newspaper of Pottstown.

The sexual assaults occurred in Beener's home.

Upper Providence police said they began investigating Beener after the 21-year-old woman came forward.

The Mercury newspaper said that Beener potentially faces decades behind bars when he is sentenced, which will occur after a background investigation ordered by the judge is performed on Beeneer.

Court records show that Beener was represented by defense attorney Basil David Beck, III of Norristown.

The case was prosecuted by Montgomery County Assistant District Attorneys Emily D'Aguanno and Nicholas Beeson, according to court records.