Police: SouthSide Man Sexually Abused 11-Year-Old

A South Bethlehem man allegedly threatened to harm an 11-year-old girl’s elderly grandmother if the girl did not resend to him a picture of her genitalia with her cell phone, city police say.

Jonathan Pacheco, 36, of 624 Broadway, is facing multiple felony counts – including possession of child pornography – as a result of his alleged actions toward the girl, who was interviewed by a detective on Monday, court papers say.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the girl alleged to police the following:

• Pacheco, a family friend who “often” spent time at the girl’s family residence, started sending her text messages around the first week of July, telling her he thought she was “beautiful.”
• On numerous occasions between the beginning of July and Monday, Pacheco would visit the girl’s home and, when with her alone, would begin to grope her over her clothes – grabbing and touching her breasts and genitals.
• During that same time, Pacheco told the girl to send him a picture of her vaginal area by using her cell phone, which she did.
• After a period of time, Pacheco told the girl that he had lost access to the first picture and wanted her to send it again. This time, she refused. Pacheco then threatened to harm her 12-year-old brother and her elderly grandmother if she did not send another picture. She then complied.
• The girl told police that she is fearful of Pacheco and would hide when he came to visit her house.

Pacheco was arrested Wednesday and charged with indecent assault (victim under the age of 13), corruption of minors, possession of child pornography and sexual abuse of minors.

He was arraigned before and committed to Northampton County Prison after he failed to post $125,000 bail.