Spingler Denies Fondling 103-Year-Old Mother-In-Law, Report Says

Former Radnor Township Commissioner William Spingler said he was not inappropriately touching the 103-year-old woman in the Wayne Nursing Home. Rather, Springler claims he was comforting the mother of his first wife who died in 2007.

Spingler, in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, said he has cared for the woman for years, even had her live with him until her dementia hit hard.

He said after she moved to the nursing home, he would visit her nearly daily and often hugged and kissed her in the open where others could see the affection.

"I wasn't sexually assaulting my mother-in-law, who I respect and love," Spingler told the Inquirer. "My intent was to hug her and love her and let her know I was there. That's all I was doing."

Spingler recently waived his preliminary hearing on Jan. 5 and his formal arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 1.

Spingler, 73 of Paoli, was arrested Dec. 23 after nursing home employees claimed to have seen him with his hand on the 103-year-old dementia patient's chest.

Police said Spingler allegedly assaulted the woman on Dec. 15, Dec. 17, and Dec. 23.

Patch file photo