Police: Girl 'gifted' to sex assault suspect; 12 girls found in PA home
FEASTERVILLE, Pa. -- A Pennsylvania man is facing sex assault charges after allegedly fathering two children with a teenage girl who, police say, was "gifted" to him by her Amish parents.
Lee Kaplan, 51, is charged with statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor.
Twelve girls, ranging from 6 months to 18 years, were found Thursday inside a home located on the 400-block of Old Street Road in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.
It all started when police received a complaint about the health and safety of the numerous children living in the home.
Action News spoke with the woman who says she contacted authorities after seeing multiple young girls living in the home - all wearing blue dresses - looking unhappy and fearful.
She tells us a neighbor saw the man bring home a baby girl around six months ago. When she heard no report had been made, she made an official complaint.
"I just wasn't gonna let go. I saw a couple girls last week standing in the driveway. They just looked unhappy and sad and again in the blue dresses, and I've been telling my husband for years something isn't right, something isn't right," said Jen Betz of Feasterville.
Police had also been told that Kaplan was telling neighbors that no children lived there.
According to the police affidavit, Kaplan told officers an 18-year-old was the mother of a 3-year-old child and a 6-month-old child.
He allegedly told police the 3-year-old was born after he had sex with the teen when she was 14 years old.
According to investigators, the 18-year-old was "gifted" to Kaplan by her parents, because Kaplan helped the family out of "financial ruin."
Officials say the father, Daniel Stoltzfus, told investigators he and his wife, Savilla, did it after "researching the legality of it on the Internet."
Stoltzfus said he knew his daughter was 14 when she first became pregnant, police say.
"Right now we're coordinating with authorities in Lancaster County to interview these children in a safe environment," said Lower Southampton Police Lt. John Krimmel.
According to officials, the couple are also the parents of the nine other children. There is no evidence at this time they were sexually assaulted.
Those children are in the care of Children and Youth Services in Lancaster County.
The Stoltfzuses, from Quarryville, Lancaster County, are charged with conspiracy for statutory assault, endangering the welfare of children and related offenses.
All three are being held on $1 million bond each at the Bucks County Jail.
Betz tells Action News she feels like a weight has been lifted, and hopes the girls receive the therapy they need. She said today is like liberation day.
