Delco Man Broke Baby's Arm, Strangled Child And Fiancé: Authorities

RIDLEY, PA — A Delaware County man broke his young child's arm, strangled and hit his 7-year-old stepchild, and strangled his fiancé, according to authorities.

Sebastian Fountain, 30, of Ridley, is charged with felony crimes, including strangulation, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault. Fountain is also charged with simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Fountain was the director of soccer and head coach at the Phelps School in Malvern, but school officials said he is no longer an active employee.

The charges were filed in July after county authorities launched an investigation into the potential abuse of a 1-year-old child.

The probe began when county detectives in May learned of a child who was hospitalized with an inexplicable spiral fracture in the left arm. Authorities said that same child was taken to a local emergency room in April with bruising to its face.

The child's mother and Fountain, who authorities said were engaged to be married, were interviewed by detectives in early June, and both said the child was fussy and having mobility issues with her left arm after being left alone with Fountain on May 30 and May 31.

Fountain, authorities said, could not provide a reason for the child's fractured arm.

Then, investigators spoke with the mother's two children, ages 11 and 7.

The older child reported Fountain spanked the younger child, and the younger child told investigators Fountain choked him, according to authorities.

The next day, a Children and Youth Services worker told investigators they notified the mother of the abuse disclosure by the 7-year-old child. The mother told the worker that Fountain had been violent with her and that he carried a knife around the house, authorities said.

She was granted a temporary protection from abuse order, which included her and the 1-year-old child.

When turning the child over to authorities, Fountain said "I hope you are f***ing happy" to the mother, said he was "going to be dead anyway tonight," then began punching a wall in the home, authorities said.

Police tried to calm Fountain, but he became combative and was taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

In another interview with investigators, the mother said Fountain strangled her when she was four to five months pregnant with their child and her two other children were present, charging documents state. She also said he strangled her while on vacation in Florida, authorities said.

She went on to say Fountain threatened suicide on more than a dozen occasions, and would punch, hit, and destroy things when he was angry, according to documents.

Then in late June, investigators were informed by a doctor that the child's broken arm was likely due to it being twisted.

Fountain was taken into custody on the charges above in early July.

He was released on $100,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled for a Sept. 25 preliminary hearing, according to court records.