NORRISTOWN — A Norristown police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.
Nicholas Santo, 47, of North Coventry, was arraigned in front of Chester County District Judge James DeAngelo on Sept. 18, according to Priya DeSouza, the Chester assistant district attorney prosecuting the case. His bail was set at the full amount of $25,000 which was later paid in full.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Sept. 18 Chester County detectives received a report that a young girl had been sexually assaulted. The report stated Santo allegedly sexually assaulted the girl Sept. 13.
During the interview with Chester County detectives, the victim alleged she was lying with her brother on Santo’s bed at his home. She told police the three were snuggled together because it was cold, and Santos touched her inappropriately.
Norristown Chief of Police Willie Richet said Santo is on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation and subsequent trial.
Richet said he was surprised when he heard about the charges against Santo.
“I was surprised. It seems out of character for him,” Richet said.
Santo will face a preliminary hearing Nov. 21 in front of District Judge DeAngelo. He faces charges of aggravated assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.
Santo has been a police a officer for nearly 20 years. In February 2011, he became the subject of an investigation after he shot a man to who was trying to run him down with a car on Pearl Street. Santo fired through the windshield, wounding the 21-year-old driver, who sped off and was arrested the next day at a Philadelphia hospital where he had gone for treatment. The man was charged with aggravated assault and car theft.
The Norristown Police Department conducted an internal review and concluded Santo had followed police policy in a satisfactory manner. The Montgomery County District Attorney’s concluded the shooting was justified.
The Fairfax County Police
Sweeping it under the carpet for over fifty years