Child Sex Assault, More Charges Filed Against Deputy Delco Fire Chief

FOLCROFT, PA — A deputy chief at a Delaware County fire company has been hit with charges related to the sexual assault of a teenager, court records show.

Matthew Thomas Bateman, 28, of Folcroft, was charged Friday with a slew of crimes.

Bateman is charged with three counts each of indecent assault of a person under 16 years old, institutional sexual assault of a minor, felony unlawful contact with a minor, felony trafficking in individuals, and one count of corruption of a minor, according to court records.

The Delaware County Daily Times reports Bateman is accused of kissing a 15-year-old, as well as fondling the teen's genitals, at the fire station for several months.

Authorities began investigating the allegations in November, according to the outlet.

The Folcroft Fire Company's website still lists Bateman as the Deputy Fire Chief as of 1 p.m. Friday.

Bateman is being held on $750,000 bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12, 2023.

An attorney for Bateman was not listed in court documents.

Folcroft Borough's council and mayor issued a statement on the charges Friday afternoon, calling for "swift justice for all those involved."

"Our hearts break for the victim, the victim’s family and the affected community," the statement reads. "Folcroft residents need to trust that Borough employees are protecting their health, safety, and welfare. The alleged misconduct is unacceptable behavior which undermines that trust and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. We encourage anyone who has experienced or has knowledge of this behavior to contact the proper authorities and fully cooperate with the investigation."