Courts. (Credit: LevittownNow.com)
An investigation revealed Cunningham indecently touched and forcibly raped the girl while in his company on July 3, 2024 in Upper Providence
A Delaware County man will be sentenced in the near future after admitting to raping a 13-year-old girl in Upper Providence Township last summer in a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Barry Cunningham, 44, of the 1100 block of East 8th Street, Eddystone, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Monday to charges of rape and endangering the welfare of a child, according to court records. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the crime.
According to The Mercury, Cunningham decided to plead guilty before jury selection for his trial. The plea agreement spared the child from having to re-live the assault and testify at a trial.
Other charges of corruption of a minor, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault of a minor, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, and intimidation of a witness are slated to be dismissed against Cunningham as part of the plea agreement at the time of sentencing.
Senior Judge Thomas C. Branca accepted a plea agreement, per the report. Cunningham would have three years of probation after his prison term.
Cunningham must undergo an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets the criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator, per The Mercury.
“State prison is truly the only option for how heinous of a crime this was,” said Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Eileen Glenning, who handled the case, according to The Mercury. “This defendant is someone who had gained the trust of the victim’s family and completely shattered that on this day when he took advantage of her.”
An investigation revealed Cunningham indecently touched and forcibly raped the girl while in his company on July 3, 2024 in Upper Providence.
During the assault, Cunningham told the girl, “You have to do whatever I say now, and you better not tell anyone or it’s going to be a problem,” according to the arrest affidavit.
After he was arrested, Cunningham reached out to the girl and attempted to intimidate her to withhold testimony at a trial, police said.
Prosecutors were prepared to present DNA evidence linking Cunningham to the rape, per the report.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
