Mother's Boyfriend Raped Lower Bucks Girl: DA

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —A 33-year-old man was convicted of repeatedly raping a girl in Falls Township while he was in a relationship with her mother, authorities said.

Cory Hegelein, of Falls Township, was found guilty Friday of rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault on a person less than 13 years old, indecent assault on a person less than 13 years of age, and corruption of minors, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said..

In his closing arguments Friday morning, Deputy District Attorney Jovin Jose said Hegelein used his access to the victim to rape her for years.

Hegelein had previously been in a relationship with the girl’s mother.

On Tuesday, the young girl, now 12, testified about Hegelein repeatedly raping her in different rooms in the apartment, describing in detail the horrors he inflicted.

The investigation began in November 2022 when Falls Township police received a report that a child had “possible inappropriate sexual contact with an adult.”

In a forensic interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center, which was played in court, the victim, who was 10 at the time, said that Hegelein raped her on several occasions, most recently a week before police received the report.

She said she was 8 when he first raped her. The girl also told police that Hegelein would show her pornography on his cellphone.

The victim’s brother, who testified in court, confirmed some of the details. During their investigation, Falls Township investigators executed a search warrant at Hegelein’s apartment and collected three cell phones, which belonged to Hegelein.

Police also collected clothing, towels, and bedding from the apartment. Testing at the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab found evidence of sperm on a red blanket, which was a match to Hegelein.

The testing also found DNA evidence on the red blanket that was linked to the victim. An analysis of Hegelein’s cellphones led to the discovery of pornography, including some that he took from inside the home.

Sentencing was deferred for 120 days as Hegelein undergoes a pre-sentence evaluation and an evaluation by the Sex Offender Assessment Board. The trial before Common Pleas Judge Gary B. Gilman began Monday.