PHILADELPHIA, June 20 (UPI) — A man was arrested and charged on multiple counts of assault after 12 girls were found living with him in his suburban house, authorities said.
Lee Kaplan, 51, had girls ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years in his suburban home, with many living in the basement. Two of the children he fathered with the 18-year-old, police said.
Kaplan was arrested after a raid by police acting on a tip from a neighbor.
Kaplan was charged with statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor, according to a police criminal complaint filed in Bucks County.
“They were living in the basement, they were hiding in the chicken coop,” said Robert Hoopes, Lower Southampton’s director of public safety. The children appeared to be home-schooled, with homework and musical instruments found with them, Hoopes said.
The parents of the 18-year-old, Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus, were arrested nearly 100 miles away in Lancaster County and charged with endangering the welfare of children. Police said the couple had “gifted” their daughter to Kaplan for helping them financially a few years ago. The girl was pregnant with the first child at age 14, the criminal complaint said.
Daniel Stoltzfus has also been charged criminal conspiracy and statutory sexual assault, according to the criminal complaint.
The Stoltzfuses claim to be the parents of 10 of the children, and grandparents to the youngest two, Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler told CNN.
The three adults are being held on $1 million bail, according to court dockets.
After the raid, the children were being kept together by county social services workers, Heckler said.
