Coatesville Man Guilty Of Child Rape, Other Felonies, Says Jury

WEST CHESTER, PA — A defendant in a child rape case had to be removed from a Chester County courtroom after he "exploded" upon pronouncement that a jury found him guilty of multiple felonies.

A jury found Marshone Steele, 31, of Coatesville, guilty of charges related to the sexual abuse of two children under age 10 at his mother's house between 2014 and 2019.

He was found guilty on Sept. 10 of three first-degree felonies; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, and unlawful contact with a minor - sexual offenses, and child rape. He was also found guilty of three third-degree felonies; indecent assault of a person under 13, corruption of minors, and endangering the welfare of children, according to court documents.

The District Attorney's Office reported Steele's explosive reaction to the verdict forced him to be removed from the courtroom.

Steele will be sentenced later.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "It took tremendous bravery for these two little girls to reveal the defendant's abuse, and then even more fortitude to testify against him. We thank the jury for their serious deliberations in this devastating case and for giving justice to these young victims. We all hope and pray for their healing moving forward."

Coatesville City Police and Chester County Detectives learned in October 2019 that a 9-year-old child had been sexually abused over three years, while she was between the ages of 6 and 9, by the defendant inside his mother's home in Coatesville. The defendant initially used candy to lure the child into the bedroom and then threatened that he would go to jail if she told anyone.

Investigators also learned of another child the defendant sexually abused when she was five years old while staying at his mother’s house. The defendant threatened to beat her when she ran out of the room after the abuse.

Judge Jeffrey Sommer presided. Coatesville City Police and Chester County Detectives investigated. The prosecutors were Deputy District Attorney Erin O’Brien and Assistant District Attorney Santina Pescatore.

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