"Jane Doe" - 8 yo/ Accused: Kenneth Ludwig Jr - Honey Brook (S of Reading) PA

State police arrested a 74-year-old man Thursday for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl he was baby-sitting.

Police charged Kenneth A. Ludwig Jr. of Honey Brook with rape and related
charges for the incident that allegedly happened on Wednesday.

Ludwig was reportedly asked to watch the child for about a half hour after
school, police said. Relatives reportedly interrupted the incident when
they arrived at the home to pick up the child, police said.

The male relative reportedly knocked on Ludwig's door multiple times, but no
one answered. Police said he then entered the home and found Ludwig and
the girl in the bedroom, police said. The family immediately removed
the child from the home and sought medical treatment, police said.

The victim was taken to Chester County Hospital then transported to Alfred
I. duPont Hospital for Children for further treatment, police said. The
girl reportedly told police that she had attempted to escape but Ludwig
hit her above her right eye.

State police Sgt. Brandon Daniels
said Friday an investigation revealed Ludwig allegedly molested the
child at least four separate times.

"It appears there have been prior occasions," Daniels said.

Ludwig lived alone and there were no other children in the home at the time of Wednesday's incident, Daniels said.

Daniels said the family saw Ludwig as a trusted neighbor who previously had unsupervised contact with the victim.

The investigation is ongoing.

http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2011/03/26/news/doc4d8e2403cc04d247649798.txt