Jul 10, 2007 By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

The trial for a Uniontown man accused of sexually assaulting five children he cared for started Monday in Fayette County Court. Earl David Fulton, 56, of West Berkeley Street is charged with multiple counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Uniontown police Detective Donald M. Gmitter alleged that Fulton had sex with four boys and one girl between the ages of 6 and 15 last year. He also is charged with asking another teenage boy to engage in sexual acts with him.

The alleged assaults occurred in the basement of Fulton’s home over several months, police said. When police searched Fulton’s home on Oct. 1, 2006, they reportedly found a suitcase full of sex toys and pornographic materials.

At a preliminary hearing earlier this year, at least two of the boys testified that they came forward about the alleged abuse so it would stop happening.

Fulton has a prior record that entails sexual abuse of children. In 1970, he was convicted of sodomy in Allegheny County and served two to four years in prison.

Four years later, he was charged with indecent assault and corruption of minors in connection with an assault in Connellsville.

He was again sentenced to serve two to four years in prison.

Then, records indicate, Fulton was arrested in 1980 in Uniontown for involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, followed by a conviction in 1983 on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse out of Uniontown that resulted in 3 to 10 years in prison.

In connection with this case, Fulton was offered a plea deal that would have him sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison. He turned it down.

The trial before Judge Gerald R. Solomon will today.