Parkesburg Man Will Serve Up To 40 Years In Child Sex Abuse Case: DA

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Two girls whose grandmother babysat them while their mother worked nights became victims of abuse by a man who lived in the grandmother's home, and who pleaded guilty and has been sentenced for the abuse.

Claude Edwards, 65, of Parkesburg, pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, and other charges related to the sexual abuse of two girls, for over six years. Both girls lived with their grandmother while the defendant was living in the same house, according to a report from the Chester County District Attorney's Office.

Chester County Judge Jeffrey Sommer sentenced Edwards to 18-40 yrs in prison.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "Claude Edwards stole the innocence of these little girls and deprived them of the childhoods they deserved. These depraved and unconscionable acts will cause them life-altering consequences. They showed amazing strength and courage in coming forward, and I hope the sentence imposed by Judge Sommer brings them some justice and keeps the defendant behind bars for the rest of his life."

On June 23, 2020, Chester County Detectives learned that Victim No. 1 had been abused by Edwards starting around 2009 when she was 6 or 7, and lasting until she was approximately 12 years old. The victim stayed with her grandmother at night while her mother worked and Edwards lived there, too, the DA's report explained.

Investigators discovered the defendant abused Victim No. 1 nearly every day by forcing her to touch his genitals, sexually assaulting her, and making her watch pornographic videos. Edwards told the girl she would get in trouble if she told anyone. The abuse stopped in 2011 when her grandmother died, according to the DA's report.

On June 25, 2020, Caln Township Police became aware of the sexual abuse of Victim No. 2, which started in 2002 when she was 8. The abuse happened at her grandmother's house, where she lived along with Edwards, according to the District Attorney's report.

Investigators learned that the defendant raped Victim No. 2, forced her to touch his genitals, watch pornographic videos, and perform other deviant acts. The defendant also sexually assaulted Victim No. 2 at his place of employment and at a mobile home nearby, according to the DA's report. He told the second victim that if she told anyone what happened, he would get sent away, and "nobody's gonna love you," the report said.

The abuse stopped in 2007 when Victim No. 2 was 13 and moved out of her grandmother's home.

Caln Township Police and Chester County Detectives investigated. Assistant District Attorney Christine Abatemarco was the prosecutor.

The Chester County District Attorney's Office asks anyone who suspects child sexual abuse to call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.

The DA's Office offers free virtual training to help recognize, react, report child sexual abuse. Contact County Coordinator Katie Walters at kwalters@chesco.org or 610-344-6115 for more information.

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