Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Plymouth Township Police Chief John C. Myrsiades announced today the arrest of Daniel Barnett, 38, of the 3100 block of Plymouth Rock Road in Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Township), on 20 felony counts of Rape of a Child and other charges related to his sexual assaults of a young girl during a six-year period from 1997 until 2003.

Police began the investigation began when the now 29-year-old victim came into the Plymouth Township Police Department to report that she was raped more than 100 times from the time she was five years old until when she was nine or 10 years old by Barnett. Barnett is 10 years older than the victim.

The subsequent investigation found that Barnett was a friend of the victim’s brother. The sexual abuse began with inappropriate touching and progressed to rape.

“This defendant was repeatedly sexually assaulting a very young girl for years,” said District Attorney Steele. “We are continuing to investigate, and anyone with information about this assault or any other criminal behavior related to this defendant is asked to call Plymouth Township Police at 610-279-1901.”

Barnett was arrested on 20 first-degree felony counts of Rape of a Child, Involuntary Deviant Sexual Intercourse With a Child, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and related charges. He was arraigned on April 13th before Magisterial District Judge Maurice Saylor, who set bail at $1 million with additional conditions of no contact with the victim, children or disabled adults. Barnett was unable to post bail and was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. Common Pleas Judge Henry S. Hilles III held a bail review hearing on April 14th and left the bail unchanged. A preliminary hearing is set for April 26th at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Saylor.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Karla Pisarik, a member of the Family Protection Unit.

Photo: Mugshot from Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office