Tredyffrin Man Charged with Child Sex Abuse

A Tredyffrin Township man was arrested Wednesday and charged with the sexual abuse of a child, among other charges, the Chester County District Attorney  announced.

Lawrence Harold Carroll, 46, of the 100 block of Devonwood Lane in Devon, is charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child and related charges, the District Attorney’s Office said.

“The sexual abuse of children is a particularly horrifying crime that robs children of their innocence,” Chester County District Attorney Thomas P. Hogan said. “This case showed a persistent pattern of abuse that took place over years. Anyone with additional information about this defendant, including any other victims, is encouraged to come forward.”

The charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between December 1990 and the summer of 1995, the District Attorney’s Office said. Police said Carroll assaulted the victim, who was between 6 and 11 years old when the assaults took place, more than 20 times over that period. The assaults took place in the defendant’s home, near railroad tracks and near a creek bed, the District Attorney’s Office said. 

The assaults first were reported to the Tredyffrin Township Police Department on Jan. 15, police said.

“As law enforcement officers, we carefully guard and defend all victims of crime,” Tredyffrin Police Superintendant Anthony Giaimo said. “In such cases that involve our most vulnerable victims, our children, we are particularly vigilant in our policing mission. I commend Detective James Konieczny for his diligence in investigating this 24-year-old child sexual-abuse case. ”

Carroll was charged with seven felony counts and was arraigned Wednesday  before Magisterial District Judge Analissa Sondergaard at the Chesterbrook District Court. Bail was set at $75,000.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, April 25.

The case is being investigated by the Detectives’ Unit of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department, and will be prosecuted by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office Child Abuse Unit.

Anyone with information pertinent to the investigation is asked to contact Detective James Konieczny of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department at (610) 408-3647 or jkonieczny@tredyffrin.org.