Weatherly man in custody for alleged indecent assault of two women

A Weatherly man is charged with the indecent assault of two women who were caring for a relative.

William Wilkinson, 67, of the 2000 block of Hudson Drive, faces charges on 15 counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault, along with two counts of indecent exposure.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Pennsylvania trooper James Quiroz:

At 3:45 p.m. Feb. 10, the victim said that she is employed by a home care agency, and that her first client is a 34-year-old woman who suffers from cerebral palsy.

During her employment in Weatherly, the victim said that Wilkinson, a relative of the client, would make unwanted advances toward her, stating that it started out with inappropriate flirtatious comments.

Wilkinson moved on to making lewd comments to the victim, and progressed to groping her and exposed himself to her.

On Aug. 1, state police interviewed Wilkinson acknowledged that the two victims worked as aides in his residence.

Wilkinson said during the interview that one thing leads to another, but he doesn’t want to get into that.

Wilkinson said that the two victims and he had a close relationship, and that one of the victims would give him a hug when they would be in the kitchen area.

He said that in his opinion, there was nothing as far as touching that he would deem inappropriate.

When asked if the victims were ever inappropriate toward him, Wilkinson said no, and that he believes he and the victims are like family, adding that both victims are great girls.

The victim became tired of Wilkinson’s advances and notified her employer around the end of December 2017 or the beginning of January 2018.

The company removed her from that environment and placed her with a new client.

The second victim, a home health aide, said she had cared for the client for 14 months, and she has been assigned to care for a client in Weatherly.

She advised that throughout her time at the Wilkinson residence, she has endured repeated sexual assaults by Wilkinson, stating that, “I never reported it sooner because I really need this job.”

Wilkinson is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Oct. 1 before District Judge Joseph Homanko of Weatherly.

Wilkinson remains in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000, 10 percent bail.