Man Awaiting Child-Corruption Trial Charged with Statutory Rape of Royersford Teen

A former Royersford resident faces more than 60 criminal charges relating to an alleged relationship he had with a 15-year-old girl, while awaiting trial on separate molestation allegations. 

The latest charges against Ralph Joseph DeSantis, 30, come three years after his four-year-old son accidentally shot and killed himself in his Chestnut Street home.

In the latest case, DeSantis, listed as living in Trooper in court documents, but in Royersford on Facebook, is charged with statutory rape, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child and other offenses after allegedly carrying on a relationship with a Royersford teen for several months, beginning one month before her 16th birthday, according to police.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a Bridgeport woman contacted the Royersford Police on June 7 to report that DeSantis was carrying on a relationship with a 15-year-old female, and provided photos of the two together, kissing and hugging on many occasions.

On June 26, police met with the teen and her parents, and she said she began engaging in sexual relations with DeSantis before she was 16, has carried on a relationship with him for several months, and is currently.

According to the victim, the relationship began on February 15, when DeSantis allegedly communicated with the teen on Facebook and made arrangements to spend the evening with her, police said.  

According to the victim, DeSantis allegedly picked the teen up in the parking lot of Tom’s Bar, located on Walnut Street in Royersford, and took her back to his home in Bridgeport, where the two engaged in oral sex and sexual intercourse.

According to the victim, the two have had sexual intercourse multiple times between then and June 28.

DeSantis is charged with 61 counts of various felonies and misdemeanors, including unlawful contact with a minor, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child, and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, according to court documents.

DeSantis, who was sent to Montgomery County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail,  was previously out on bail and facing an October jury trial after being charged with corruption of minors in December 2012.

DeSantis is listed as having been involved with local fire companies previously.

In August 2010, DeSantis' four-year-old son, Michael DeSantis, died after accidentally shooting himself in the forehead with DeSantis’s gun in his Chestnut Street home. The elder DeSantis was not charged in that incident.