Springtown Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Girl

A Springtown man who Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan has labeled a “serial predator” and is recommending be held without bail has been charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Springfield Township late last year.

Charges against Edward A. Eisenhard, 37, were first filed last month following his alleged assault of an employee at a Five Below store he managed in Hilltown Township.

Khan’s office said Tuesday that news of his arrest prompted two additional victims to come forward, including the Springfield resident.

According to a news release, Eisenhard allegedly sexually assaulted the girl on two occasions. In that case, he is charged with four counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault and one count each of harassment and corruption of minors.

In another case that recently came to light, prosecutors said Eisenhard allegedly assaulted an employee he was supervising at the Valley of Fear Halloween attraction in Lower Southampton Township.

According to a criminal complaint, while on a break, Eisenhard approached the employee while she was working alone on Sept. 25, which was the event’s opening night. “Unprovoked, he grabbed the victim tightly by her throat to the point that she had difficulty breathing, pinned both of her wrists above her head against a wall, made sexual comments and indecently assaulted her over her clothing,” the release said.

Although he was terminated by Valley of Fear Sept. 26, authorities said Eisenhard was still working at the Five Below store, which is where he allegedly assaulted a third victim on Sept. 27.

In that case, the victim told police she was working in the store when Eisenhard–her boss at the time–had her clean the stockroom. As she was cleaning, Eisenhard allegedly made lewd comments before restraining and sexually assaulting her.

Eisenhard had reportedly worked at Valley of Fear for 10 seasons, and Bucks County law enforcement officials are urging anyone who may have been a victim to contact Bucks County Detectives at 215-348-6354.

“The evidence gathered in these investigations reveals a calculated pattern of behavior by a serial predator who preyed upon vulnerable female victims,” Khan said Tuesday. “As a community-based DA’s Office, we are asking for the public’s help to ensure that this defendant is held fully accountable. If you were victimized by this individual, please know that you are not alone. We will listen to you, we will fight for you and that we will do everything in our power to keep you and our community safe.”

Khan added that although Eisenhard has been incarcerated since charges in the Five Below case were filed Oct. 1, and unable to post the required 10 percent of $200,000 bail that was set by a Bucks County District Court judge, he is now asking that he be held without bail.

“Serial sexual predators should not be able to buy themselves out of jail,” he said. “This is why, with these new charges, we are requesting that this defendant be held without the possibility of posting cash bail, consistent with the policy I put in place when I took office to better protect the safety of the community.”

The court dockets filed in the cases involving Eisenhard did not list an attorney for him.

A preliminary hearing in the Five Below case is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. at Bucks County District Court 07-2-08 in New Britain. Preliminary hearings in the cases in which charges have just been filed had not yet been scheduled as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information provided by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office and Bucks County court records. Court records list Eisenhard’s hometown as Hellertown. According to public records, his home is located in a part of Springfield Township, Bucks County, which has a Hellertown mailing address.