An Upper Gwynedd Township man accused of the indecent assault of a 6-year-old girl while serving as her babysitter has been sentenced to probation as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Hayden Rhodes, 23, was sentenced to two years’ probation on Feb. 27 after pleading guilty to a pair of reduced charges of misdemeanor harassment, court records show. Rhodes was sentenced to one year of probation on each count, which will be served consecutively, according to court documents.
Sentencing notes show Rhodes is prohibited from having any further contact with the victim and must undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation and comply with any recommendations.
Rhodes was previously arraigned on a felony charge of unlawful contact with a minor, along with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, endangering the welfare of children, and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, in connection with the case. However, the felony charge and the indecent exposure charge were replaced by misdemeanor counts of harassment as part of the plea agreement and the remaining charges were dropped.
If convicted of the unlawful contact with a minor charge, Rhodes would have faced up to seven years in prison and a mandatory 10-year registration period as a sex offender.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office said the plea agreement was negotiated after the victim’s family stated they did not want to go through a trial.
In June 2021, detectives with the Upper Gwynedd Township Police Department received a Childline referral regarding the alleged sexual abuse of a child. The referral stated that a juvenile female had disclosed that when she was approximately 6 years old, her babysitter got on top of her on her bed and “humped her.”
According to the criminal complaint, the victim was forensically interviewed at Mission Kids a few weeks later, at which time she stated that her normal babysitter was unavailable to babysit her on that night, and the babysitter’s brother — identified as Rhodes — had filled in for his sister. The victim said that while babysitting, Rhodes got on top of her while she was laying on her mattress and made sexual motions, the report states. Rhodes also had the victim get on top of him to make similar motions, and later had the victim place her hand on Rhodes’ erect penis, police said.
Approximately one year later, Rhodes again filled in for his sister and attempted to engage in indecent contact with the victim, however the victim said no, pushed him away and walked away from him, according to the complaint.
Investigators said the abuse occurred between June 2016 and December 2017.
Charges were officially filed against Rhodes on Oct. 22, 2021, including felony counts of unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors, along with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, endangering the welfare of a child, and indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age.
The felony corruption of minors charge was dismissed at Rhodes’ preliminary hearing.
Rhodes was represented by Martin Mullany Esq., of the Skippack-based Mullaney and Mullaney law firm, throughout the duration of his court proceedings. This news organization has reached out to secure comment from Martin Mullany and will add it to this article once received.
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