Cecil Township man convicted of sexually assaulting boy
A Cecil Township man was convicted Wednesday on all charges that he sexually assaulted an 11-year-old boy over two years.
Ryan Lewis Wolstoncroft, 40, was found guilty of felony charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a child, sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors, and he faces up to 40 years in prison when he sentenced in December.
Wolstoncroft assaulted the boy several times between 2020 and 2021 going back to when the child was 11, Cecil Township police said. Wolstoncroft touched the boy inappropriately and engaged in sex acts with him during that time. Police also said Wolstoncroft purchased the boy credits for a popular video game in exchange for their silence.
The victim, who is still a minor, testified during the trial this week and told the jury about the abuse.
Cecil Township police were alerted of the situation in January 2022 when South Fayette police contacted them about a 20-year-old molestation case in which Wolstoncroft was the suspect, although he was never charged in that case. Cecil Township police arrested and charged Wolstoncroft in January 2022 in connection with the sexual assault of the boy.
“We’re always going to prosecute people who harm children, to the fullest extent of the law, and we’re happy the jury came back with a guilty verdict,” Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said.
Wolstoncroft’s defense attorney, Chad Schneider, could not be reached for comment Thursday to discuss the verdict.
The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning its guilty verdict Wednesday night following the two-day trial this week presided over by President Judge Valarie Costanzo at the Washington County Courthouse.
After the verdict was read, Wolstoncroft was taken to the Washington County jail as he awaits to be sentenced by Costanzo at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 10. He had been free on $250,000 cash bond since shortly after his arrest in late January 2022.