Monroe man jailed on rape charge

A Monroe County man was jailed this week on multiple charges of sexual assault.

State police at Lehighton said William Robert Engler, 58, of Kunkletown, has been charged with the following counts: rape, rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse (three counts), aggravated indecent assault (five counts), statutory sexual assault, endangering the welfare of children, sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor, all felony offenses. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent assault (four counts), indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

Troopers allege that Engler assaulted a female, who was between the ages of eight and 14, during the period of 2000 to 2006, at a property along Whitey B Drive, in Polk Township. The victim is now 19 years old, troopers said.

Engler was arraigned before District Judge Jolana Krawitz, of Stroudsburg, and was committed to the county prison in Snydersville after failing to post $100,000 straight cash bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively set for Oct. 18 at 10:30 a.m. before Krawitz.