Child Sex Charges Land Chester County Man Behind Bars: Police

WEST WHITELAND, PA —A 54-year-old West Whiteland Township man is in Chester County Prison Monday in lieu of $750,000 bail on charges of sexual assaults involving four children over 20 years.

John P. Stevens is accused of sexually assaulting two 5-year-old girls, a 7-year-old boy, and a 6 to 8-year-old boy in his West Whiteland Township residence, according to investigators.

Detective Scott Pezick said the sexual assaults occurred over 20 years. Two victims were assaulted more recently, Pezick told the Patch.

Stevens was arraigned before District Judge John R. Bailey Friday on charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, unlawful restraint of a minor, and related offenses.

West Whiteland police received a report of child abuse on April 10 and officers interviewed four victims between April 20-28.

One of the 5-year-old girls told police that Stevens sexually assaulted her on three consecutive days, and he threatened to kill her if she told anyone, the complaint said.

The 7-year-old boy told officers Stevens touched him approximately nine times during showers, the complaint said.

Police also interviewed two other older victims who reported incidents of abuse that happened when they were elementary school-aged, the police report said.

One female victim told police one incident of abuse involved Stevens and a 13-year-old boy and took place when she was 5.

A male victim told authorities that when he was between the ages of 6 and 8 years old he and

Stevens were close together on the sofa watching a movie, and he believed Stevens was masturbating.

Stevens faces a preliminary hearing later this month. An investigation is ongoing, police said.

West Whiteland Police Chief Lee Benson asked anyone with further information to contact police at 484-875-6022.