Sexual Assault Of Girl Results In Arrest Of Downingtown Coach: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA —A former high school football coach was arrested Friday on charges of sexually assaulting a girl, who is now 12, for several years in his Downingtown home, prosecutors said.

Kenneth Walls, 77, is accused having sexual relations with a child, who he allegedly took out to eat, shop and to fairs and carnivals.

The defendant, a former staff football coach at the Downingtown West High School, recently served as a volunteer coach for the football team, prosecutors said.

Walls is in Chester County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail after being arraigned before District Judge Ann Feldman on charges of aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and related charges.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said the child told school officials about the abuse when she was 12 years old.

“The child victim in this case showed tremendous courage by telling a mandated reporter at her school about this awful abuse,” Ryan said.

“The defendant engaged in a common pattern of child predators: he lavished the child with gifts, took her shopping, and made her feel special.”

Ryan said Walls duped the child’s family into thinking he was a kind and generous man.

“These despicable criminal violations will have life-altering consequences for this child and her family, and we will do everything possible to get justice for them."

Dr. Robert O’Donnell, school superintendent, said each day that parents send their children to school, they entrust the district with their safety.

“As a district, we take that responsibility seriously and will continue to work with our staff, students, families, law enforcement and community to maintain a safe educational environment for all children, " he said.

According to a police complaint:

• On Nov. 3, 2022, Chester County detectives learned that a 12-year-old victim told a staff member at her school in another county that the defendant had been sexually abusing her on numerous occasions for the past two to three years.
• The victim told investigators that the sexual abuse happened at the defendant’s house in Downingtown.
• Detectives discovered the victim sometimes stayed at the defendant’s house and that he bought her a cell phone, hoverboard, and ear pods.
• He would text and call the victim multiple times a week.
• The victim told detectives that the defendant took her out for meals, shopping, and to fairs or carnivals.

Call Childline at 1-800-932-0313 if you suspect a child is being abused.
Learn to recognize, react to, and report child sexual abuse by taking a free virtual Stewards of Children workshop.

Contact County Coordinator Elisa Mendoza at emendoza@chesco.org or 610-344-5576 for more information.