by Alex Lloyd Gross
Gerald William Spoto was arrested again last week, when another victim came forward to allege he was sexually assaulted by Spoto. him. Spoto is an adult. . This brings the total number of victims to seven. Originally, Spoto was charged for assaults that happened 20 years ago. He probably thought he got away with it, until the knock at his door on Disk Lane in Bristol Township.
Another victim came forward and Spoto is facing three felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts each of indecent assault of a person less than 13 and indecent assault of a person less than 16, and one count each of corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor. Additionally, he was charged with 274 counts of photographing or filming a child sex act and 275 counts of possession of child pornography, all felonies, authorities said.
When he was arrested originally, his cell phone and computers were seized and sent to the FBI rime lab. Police got the results back earlier this month and found 274 photos of an 11 year old boy , in compromising positions. Police said that some images showed the boy naked.
When police spoke with the parents of the boy, they told him that he spent a significant amount of time with Spoto at his home on Disk Lane and about a year earlier, he started exhibiting signs of depression. They said Spoto also purchased gifts for their son, which detectives saw as classic grooming behavior.
Spoto was arraigned on the additional charges before District Justice Terry Hughes who denied him bail, citing public safety concerns and Spoto being a flight risk as he is in the process of selling his home. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27. None of the assaults took place at the kids club, police said.
Investigators believe there may be more victims and ask anyone with information to contact Middletown Township Police Detective John Beck at 215-750-3872, ext. 2215.