(Editor’s note: some details from the investigation are being withheld in order to protect the identity of the victim.)
A local man is in custody at the Bucks County Correctional Facility after being charged with multiple felonies stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of a young girl in 2016.
Michael Edward Lee, 51, has been charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and corruption of a minor, following an investigation by the Hilltown Township Police Department. He’s currently being held in lieu of 10% of $350,000 cash bail.
Lee resides in Silverdale Borough, which has a Perkasie mailing address and contracts police services via Hilltown Police.
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to Lee’s home on Feb. 24 for a report of a suicide attempt. Police said Lee had attempted to hang himself after allegedly confessing to sexually abusing a child during a confrontation with another adult.
Investigators made contact with the victim, who was forensically interviewed on March 2. During the interview, the victim said when she was in kindergarten she had stayed overnight at Lee’s home, and after he had put her to bed, he re-entered the room several times and touched her inappropriately, according to charging documents.
Police said the victim had informed another adult of what happened, leading to the confrontation on Feb. 24. During the confrontation, Lee allegedly confessed to molesting the child and said, “I did the baddest (sic) thing that anyone could do,” according to the complaint.
Court records show charges were filed against Lee on April 6, and he was arraigned the following day. Lee’s next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on April 18 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, the National Crisis Line can be reached day or night at 988. If you or someone you know is the victim of child sex abuse, contact RAINN at 800-656-4673.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.
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