Penn-Trafford

Penn Township man accused of assaulting teenager during food delivery

Paul Peirce
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Tribune-Review

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An 83-year-old Penn Township man was accused this week of sexually assaulting a teenage girl who made a food delivery to his home earlier this month.

Clifford B. Wareham was charged Tuesday by township police with harassment and indecent assault in connection with the Dec. 21 incident that occurred at his home on the 200 block of Richmond Avenue.

Police Detective Patrick Schwer reported in court documents the 18-year-old victim said Wareham called the food establishment where she works, placed an order and asked that the teen be assigned to deliver it.

When the teenager arrived at Wareham’s home, the victim told Schwer she went to a rear sliding glass door to make the delivery and “was met by an older white male, with wrinkly skin, shaggy white hair, white beard and eyeglasses.”

Wareham invited her inside while he retrieved the payment, Schwer said.

The victim told Schwer that when Wareham returned with the money “he asked her to pull down her protective breathing mask … and told her how beautiful she was.”

According to court records, the victim told police Wareham then began kissing her and touched her inappropriately.

“She told him no. She reported she had to pull away from Wareham to get away from him. He told her he would never hurt her,” Schwer said in court documents.

“He asked if he could take her on a date and asked for her phone number,” Schwer said.

The victim gave Wareham a fake telephone number and left telling investigators she was so shaken she began carrying the food order back to her car before turning around and handing it to Wareham.

“She said she feared for her safety,” Schwer reported in court documents.

Schwer said the teenager’s description matched Wareham’s appearance. He said Wareham admitted kissing the girl in an interview and said he saw the teen when he dined at the restaurant weeks earlier.

Wareham could not be reached for comment. An attorney was not listed in court documents.

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