Montco Child Abuse Case Moves Forward After Defendant Held For Trial

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Delaware County man who is accused of injuring the genitals of the 6-year-old son of his former girlfriend during the course of alleged ongoing child abuse was ordered to stand trial on the criminal charges against him following a lower court proceeding in Montgomery County recently.

Steven Dougherty, 31, of Collingdale, Pa., was held for trial on various counts following a preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Court last month.

Court records show that Dougherty will face trial on four felonies and six misdemeanor counts, including aggravated assault of a child and endangering the welfare of children, among other charges.

Prosecutors have called the case against Dougherty extremely disturbing, as the defendant stands accused of abusing the 6-year-old so badly that the boy once had to be carried to the school nurse's office because of severe genital injuries.

Related: Montco Boy's Genitals Injured During Abuse By Mom's Boyfriend: Cops

"This is a very disturbing case of physical abuse of a young child by the defendant," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement at the time of Dougherty's arrest this summer.

The case dates back to late 2021, when county detectives said they were called in to assist with a suspected child abuse case.

Pediatric doctors reportedly discovered injuries to the boy's penis and scrotum that were consistent with child abuse.

The boy's mom, Emily Laster, 30, of Lower Pottsgrove Township, has also been criminally charged in connection with the case.

Related: Abused Montco Boy's Mom Charged With Felony Child Endangerment

Laster faces counts of felony child endangerment and related charges.

Court records show that Laster recently waived her preliminary hearing, so the case against her will also proceed in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

Laster is scheduled for formal arraignment on Oct. 26.

Dougherty, meanwhile, is also scheduled to have a formal arraignment in Common Pleas Court on Oct. 26.

A bail hearing for Dougherty has been scheduled for Nov. 2 before Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Wendy Rothstein.

He has been held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility since his arrest.

Court records show that Dougherty was originally given 10 percent of $10,000 bail, but that bail was denied after subsequent, second modified bail hearing.

Records show that Laster remains free pending trial on $100,000 unsecured bail.