Man Caught Sexually Assaulting 4-Year-Old: Police

Bethlehem police called to a home Friday afternoon saw a 56-year-old Hepatitis C-positive man sexually assault a 4-year-old child in a backyard, court records say.

Police went to the home after a female witness called 911 and said she observed an “older male” sexually assaulting a child in the backyard, the records say.

The man is identified as Donald B. Pembleton, who lives in South Bethlehem.

City Officers Samuel Elias and James Ruvolo said they saw Pembleton sitting on a wooden stool while the child was on the ground in front of him. They said the man was sexually assaulting the child, the records say.

Pembleton was taken into custody and read his Miranda rights by city Det. Moses Miller, who filed a criminal complaint again Pembleton.

Pembleton told Miller he wanted to talk to a lawyer.

Pembleton was charged with the following four felonies: involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault/victim under 13, indecent assault/victim under 13, and aggravated assault/serious bodily injury.

He also was charged with two misdemeanors—reckless endangerment of another person and corruption of minors.

Pembleton was arraigned Friday night by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.

According to a Wikipedia.com listing, Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus is spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact associated with intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment and transfusions.

Regarding the spread of the disease through sexual activity, the listing says that “while there is an association between high-risk sexual activity and Hepatitis C, it is not known whether transmission of the disease is due to drug use that has not been admitted to or sex as a risk factor.”