King Of Prussia Man Sentenced To Up To 36 Years For Child Rape In Bristol Township
by Dan Doyle | August 6, 2025
DOYLESTOWN, PA– A King of Prussia man will spend up to 36 years behind bars for the repeated sexual abuse and rape of a young girl in Bristol Township.
On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller sentenced 39-year-old Charles J. Sylvester to 18 to 36 years in state prison, followed by 21 years of probation. The sentence followed an April conviction in which a jury found Sylvester guilty of multiple child sex offenses, including rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
The case was marked by powerful victim impact statements, including emotional remarks from the now-teenaged survivor, who bravely addressed the court.
“I am not here for pity. I am here because I deserve justice,” she said. “I am here because no one should have the power to harm another person so deeply and walk away untouched. I ask for accountability not just for me, but for every other survivor who never got a chance to speak, and every person who is still afraid to come forward.”
A statement from the victim’s mother, read aloud in court, described Sylvester as a predator, emphasizing the need to protect society from further harm. “He has proven himself to be a predator, and society must be shielded from him,” she wrote.
Deputy District Attorney Megan Hunsicker entered additional victim impact statements into the court record, underscoring the emotional toll of the crimes.
Sylvester’s sentencing also includes strict post-release conditions. He is prohibited from contacting the victim or any minors, must undergo sex offender supervision, receive mental health treatment, and comply with all special conditions set by the Pennsylvania Parole Board.
The charges stem from a Bristol Township Police Department investigation launched in early 2024, after the victim came forward and identified Sylvester as her abuser. She reported that the assaults occurred over a three-year period, beginning in 2015, when she was just nine years old.
Bristol Township Detective John Jennings led the investigation, and Assistant District Attorney Sara L. Salvo prosecuted the case. A Bucks County jury delivered its guilty verdict on April 9, 2025, after a three-day trial.
“This case is another example of this office’s commitment to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who prey on our most vulnerable victims,” the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Sylvester will be required to register as a sex offender for life.