Teenage Girl Given Drugs, Sexually Assaulted In Norristown: Police

SOUTHEASTERN, PA —A 53-year-old East Coventry Township man is accused of giving methamphetamine to a 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her numerous times over a four-month period, with the last episode in Norristown, according to a police report.

Kevin L. Pethtel is in Chester County Prison Wednesday in lieu of $1 million bail after being arraigned Oct. 27 before District Justice John Hipple on charges of statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, corrupting minors, delivering methamphetamine, and related offenses.

In Pennsylvania, statutory sexual assault is defined as having sexual relations with a person who is under age 16.

Chester County detectives said the victim reported that she met Pethtel in May 2023.
Police said the victim reported the two exchanged phone numbers and then met on June 24 at a hotel in Wyomissing, Berks County, where the victim said the suspect gave her methamphetamine and had sexual relations with her.
The victim also reported Pethtel picked her up on July 8 and drove to his house in the 1500 block of Old Schuylkill Road, where he gave her the drug and had sex again several times. The teen also reported that on July 30 Pethtel drove her to his friend’s house in Norristown, where the same acts occurred.
Police said they obtained videos from the victim’s cell phone which showed the two having sex in Wyomissing, Berks County; East Coventry, Chester County; and Norristown, Montgomery County. Police said the defendant’s tattoos matched the tattoos on the suspect in the videos.