Man charged with multiple sex crimes involving minors

An Allentown man faces multiple sex crime charges including the rape of a 12-year-old girl at a residence in Walnutport in 2017.

Charges against Eric McDonald, 37, include one count of rape, one count of statutory sexual assault, four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, two counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old, three counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, three felony counts of corruption of minors and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Detective Matthew Enstrom of the Lehigh Township Police Department, the initial referral came from Northampton County Children and Youth in early 2018.

McDonald engaged in sexual intercourse with three other minor children under 13 years old, police said.

He also allowed the children to smoke marijuana and drink beer at a Lansford location, charging documents state.

Court documents also say he watched pornography with one of the children.

McDonald was arraigned last week before Magisterial District Judge Robert A. Hawke and bail was set at $500,000 cash.

He remains in Lehigh County Prison awaiting a Nov. 29 preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for 9 a.m.