Man Charged With Sex Assault on A Minor is Out on Bail

A local man who has been charged with several counts of sexual assault regarding an underage victim posted his bail on Wednesday and was released from Montgomery County Correctional Facility, according to The Mercury.

Craig Thomas Bateman, formerly of Lower Providence and now of Lower Salford, has been charged with indecent assault on a person less than 13 years old, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor, per court documents.   

It is alleged that Bateman took part in sexual acts with a 14-year-old victim through a period of five years, the last alleged assault having been in July, say police.

Police say that Bateman would allegedly call the victim at least once a month and asked her to go to his house. Bateman allegedly touched the victim inappropriately at his house, and tried to induce her to perform oral sex on him, but she would not do so, say police.

At his preliminary hearing in District court on Wednesday, the judge reduced Bateman’s bail from $500,000 to $100,000 per court documents.

The court said that Bateman is now not allowed to be on the street where the victim lives, or close to the victim’s school. Bateman is also not allowed near any school that has kindergarten classes through high school classes, and he may not be alone with any person younger than 18 years.

Bateman is scheduled to appear in Montgomery county courthouse for a formal arraignment on Oct. 23, according to court documents.