Drexel Hill man arrested for sexual assault of a juvenile; police ask other victims to come forward
Drexel Hill man arrested for sexual assault of a juvenile; police ask other victims to come forward
Upper Darby Police said 57-year-old William "Bill" Brown, of Drexel Hill, in Delaware County, was arrested for the sexual assault of a juvenile. Police belive there may be other victims and ask them to come forward.
DREXEL HILL, Pa. - A 57-year-old Drexel Hill man has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of a juvenile, officials said.
Upper Darby Police said 57-year-old William "Bill" Brown, of Drexel Hill, in Delaware County, was arrested for the sexual assault of a juvenile.
Police are concerned there may be more victims.
Upper Darby Township Police say Brown sexually assaulted a boy for a seven-year period up until 2019, when the victim started avoiding all contact.
"We believe that pattern and experience that we’ve seen is that that’s not the first time someone has done that," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Tim Bernhardt said.
Police say the assaults happened in the basement of Brown’s home and a campground in Sullivan County, Pa. Upper Darby Police are now working with State Police and other municipalities in regard to his ties to that campground.
Brown was also a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Middle and High School basketball referee and baseball umpire when the alleged assaults happened.
The PIAA says Brown started in 2004 and complied with all state law directed background clearances. They say those last five years and Brown completed his most recent in 2020 with no red flags and retired that same year.
"He was getting through because no one had ever reported it and we all know it’s very difficult for someone to come forward and report that, so that’s why we’re here today, to get the message out," Bernhardt explained.
Police say the investigation started in June of this year when the victim came forward.
In July, court documents say the victim asked Brown about the campground they visited together and Brown asked if he could see him there.
When the victim told Brown, "I can’t go through this anymore."
Brown responded, "No problem, I understand."
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the circumstances to contact them at 610-734-7669 or message them at @UpperDarbyPA.