CLEARFIELD – An area Amish man is accused of the sexual abuse of four young girls.
Simon M. Lee, 34, of Westover is charged by Punxsutawney state police with felony rape-forcible compulsion (nine counts), rape of child-serious bodily injury, rape of child (12 counts), involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with child (eight counts) and aggravated indecent assault (16 counts).
The abuse started in June of 2022 and continued until Aug. 1, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the Houtzdale magistrate’s office.
Victim 1 was between six and eight years old, victim 2 was between five and seven years old, victim 3 was between three and five years old and victim 4 was between two and four years old during the alleged assaults.
State police say the investigation was opened after the father of two victims reported Lee had been abusing the four victims.
The incidents reportedly occurred at two different locations—about a mile-and-a-half apart—in Burnside Township, Clearfield County.
The victims were interviewed at the county’s Child Advocacy Center.
Victim 1 reported how Lee touched her inappropriately under her clothing, which happened “a lot,” and they wanted to leave but Lee wouldn’t let them.
Lee also allegedly raped her.
The victim told investigators she was aware of the abuse happening to the other victims.
Victim 2 said Lee also wouldn’t let her leave, describing how he’d hold her down as he assaulted her and she couldn’t ever get free from him, and it happened so often she couldn’t remember a specific incident.
“It happened every time she saw him,” she reported.
Victim 3 said Lee “hurt” her and sexually assaulted her on more than one occasion.
Investigators attempted to interview victim 4 but she would only look down and didn’t speak.
State police interviewed the parents of two of the victims and they indicated that one of the girls had related to them that Lee was not only abusing her, but the other victims as well.
They spoke with all four victims who indicated this was true.
Afterwards, the father said he confronted Lee, who “broke down” crying and begging for forgiveness.
He said Lee confessed to the bishop of the Amish church, was punished and then shunned for approximately four weeks.
Lee waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday, transferring his case to county court. He remains in county jail in lieu of $1,000,000, bail.