Montco Boy's Genitals Injured During Course Of Abuse By Mom's Boyfriend: Police

NORRISTOWN, PA — In a case of suspected child abuse that Montgomery County authorities are calling extremely disturbing, a Delaware County man was charged with various felony counts Thursday relating to his alleged abuse of a 6-year-old child.

The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office Thursday announced charges against Steven J. Dougherty, 31, of Collingdale, whom they say caused extensive injuries to the young boy's genitals and other body parts.

The boy is the son of Dougherty's girlfriend. The victim and his mom reside in Lower Pottsgrove Township, which is in western Montgomery County just outside of Pottstown.

"This is a very disturbing case of physical abuse of a young child by the defendant," Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement.

The case dates back to late last year, when investigators with the Montgomery County Detective Bureau were called in to assist with a case of suspected child abuse.

The young boy had been hospitalized at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, at which time doctors discovered injuries to the boy's penis and scrotum, according to the DA's Office.

Doctors also found significant bruising and abrasions to the boy's abdomen, chest, eyelids, arms and legs, as well as multiple bilateral rib fractures involving 14 ribs, prosecutors stated.

Investigators soon discovered that the day before the boy was taken to the hospital, he arrived at his school with pain in his groin area so severe that he had to be carried to the school nurse's office, where it was discovered that his penis and testicles were enlarged and discolored and that he had a "oozing yellow color" from his genitals, according to the DA's Office.

The boy was also found to have bruising on his back and dried blood on his leg, according to prosecutors.

The boy stated that his mother's boyfriend was a "big mean bully."

Two days prior to the discovery made by school staff, a caller outside of a Tredyffrin Township, Chester County gas station told 911 dispatchers that the boy had climbed into her car and was hiding in the backseat in an attempt to get away from Dougherty.

The boy reportedly told the bystander that Dougherty was "trying to cut my pee-pee off and kill me."

Detectives soon learned that the boy had previously been seen by staff at CHOP in June 2021, at which time he was taken to the hospital by his grandparents who were concerned about his vomiting and diarrhea.

The boy said that fecal matter had been smeared on him by Dougherty, but the mother later claimed her son had a bathroom accident and that the fecal matter had been smeared on his face unintentionally from a towel, according to prosecutors.

A criminal complaint filed by Lower Pottsgrove Township Police Detective Daniel E. Kienle states that when she was interviewed, the boy's mother denied knowledge of any child abuse, and claimed that her son had suffered various injuries through things like falling down the steps while sleepwalking, not catching a baseball while having a catch, getting into fistfights at school, and getting his penis stuck in his zipper.

On Nov. 19, 2021, after a determination of child abuse by staff with CHOP, Montgomery County social workers removed the boy from his mother's home. A court-approved plan subsequently prohibited contact with the boy by his mother and "any recent past caregivers," the DA's Office stated.

Dougherty is being charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault of a child under 6, a felony count of endangering the welfare of a child, and misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Court records show he was arraigned on Wednesday by Magisterial District Court Judge Albert J. Augustine.

Dougherty posted 10 percent of $10,000 bail and was released from custody.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 9.