Crime & Safety

Serial Child Rapist Had More Victims, Bucks County Authorities Believe

Authorities revealed disturbing details of a child rape case in Bucks County Monday, saying they fear there are more victims.

A man accused of raping multiple children has been arrested in Falls Township, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office announced Monday. Officials fear there are more victims.

Authorities have arrested William Charles Thomas, 58, and have charged him with five counts of rape involving children under the age of 13, five counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, three counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child and related charges.

Authorities say Thomas was the handyman at Midway Village Trailer Park on Bristol Pike.

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According to an affidavit of probable cause, the investigation into Thomas began in November after sexually explicit writings detailing sexual intercourse with a child were found on plywood. A subsequent investigation revealed numerous children were victimized by Thomas, who admitted to collecting girls' underwear from places where he did handyman repairs. He had as many as 1,000 pairs of used girls' underwear, as well as almost 100 dolls that he had turned into sex toys, the affidavit said.

The affidavit alleges he has been sexually abusing children since the 1970s. That's why officials fear there could be many more victims.

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Authorities say in addition to Midway Village Trailer Park, Thomas has also lived on Pleasant Lane in the Pinewood Section of Levittown and Pennsbury Woods Apartments off New Falls Road.

Thomas told investigators he took sexually explicit photos of his own daughter, whom he is now estranged from, and would masturbate to them, the affidavit says.

Witnesses who knew Thomas told police they observed photos of naked children in his home, as well as a photo of a topless juvenile as the wallpaper background on his phone, the affidavit said.

When police searched his home, they located "prominently displayed" photographs depicting naked prepubescent children; some of the photographs were marked with the names of his alleged victims, the affidavit said.

Police also found "incredibly vulgar and graphic" drawings and writings which chronicled molestation and rape of children. Some of the writings included the names of victims yet to be identified, the affidavit said. In his chronicles, Thomas wrote some of the children he victimized were asleep or so young they wouldn't be aware of the abuse, the affidavit said.

Authorities also found hundreds of toys in his home, with a note specifying children playing in the room must be naked.

Anyone who is a victim or has information regarding Thomas is asked to contact Falls Township Sgt. Christopher Clark at (215) 302-3315 or clarkpd@fallstwp.com or Bucks County Detective Lieutenant Robert Gorman at (215) 340-8141 or rmgorman@buckscounty.org.

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