Delco Man Abused Girlfriend's 5-Year-Old Son: Authorities

COLLINGDALE, PA — A Delaware County man has been accused of physically abusing his girlfriend's 5-year-old son and is charged with felony crimes.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Lower Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Richard Bell said Steven J. Dougherty, 31, of Collingdale, is charged with aggravated assault of a child under 6, endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

Dougherty was taken into custody on Wednesday.

The charges stem from an investigation that launched in late 2021.

On Nov. 19, 2021, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau was contacted to assist with an investigation into suspected physical abuse of a 6-year-old boy, who was hospitalized at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

An examination by CHOP child abuse experts found injuries to the boy’s penis and scrotum; significant bruising and abrasions on the boy’s abdomen, chest, eyelids, arms and legs; and multiple bilateral rib fractures involving 14 ribs.

The ensuing joint investigation by Montgomery County Detectives and Lower Pottsgrove Police found that the boy’s school had made a Childline referral on Nov. 18, 2021, after the boy arrived at school with pain in his groin area so severe that he had to be carried to the school nurse’s office.

The nurse found that the boy’s penis and testicles were enlarged, red and purple in color and was "oozing a yellow color."

He also had dried blood on his leg as well as bruising on his back.

The boy reported at the time that his mother’s boyfriend "is a big, mean bully" and had bought him sneakers as an "I’m sorry gift," authorities said.

The boy’s mother, Emily Laster, was called and told to take her son to the emergency room, according to authorities.

The investigation also found that on Nov. 16, 2021, a 911 caller reported to Tredyffrin Township Police that the boy had climbed into her car and hid in the backseat in an attempt to get away from a man, later identified as Dougherty after he left his ID behind, while he was inside a gas station, authorities said.

Dougherty then got into the 911 caller’s car and pulled the boy from the vehicle, then left the gas station, according to authorities.

The 911 caller and another witness reported to police that the boy said the man he was with was "trying to cut my pee-pee off and kill me," authorities said.

Detectives found that the child had been seen previously at CHOP in June 2021, brought in by the boy’s grandparents, who were concerned about his vomiting and diarrhea.

The boy said fecal matter had been smeared on him by his mom’s boyfriend, authorities said.

However, Laster said the boy had had an accident and some fecal matter may have unintentionally been transferred to his face from a towel, according to authorities.

The grandparents also made a report to police on Oct. 28, 2021, after seeing marks on the boy’s face and the child had told them "Steven" held his face underwater trying to drown him, authorities said.

On Nov. 19, 2021, following the determination by CHOP child abuse experts, the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth implemented a safety plan for the boy, removing him from his mother’s home, according to authorities.

The plan, approved by the court, prohibits contact by his mother and "any recent past caregivers."

"This is a very disturbing case of physical abuse of a young child by the defendant," Steele said. "Thankfully, the boy is now doing well in the care of other family members."

Dougherty posted bail and was released.