ENOLA, Pa. — A Cumberland County man has been charged with raping a 16-year-old runaway, police claim in a criminal complaint.
Steven John Gallagher, 65, of Enola, was charged following an investigation by East Pennsboro Police.
The victim told authorities she spent a week at Gallagher's Enola home after running away from home on Halloween night. She said Gallagher offered her a place to stay in his house.
Soon after agreeing to stay with him, the victim reported, Gallagher began making "flirtatious" comments that made her feel uncomfortable.
By the third day, Gallagher began forcing himself upon her sexually, despite the fact she repeatedly told him she did not want to, the victim told police. Gallagher allegedly told the victim he wished to impregnate her, she reported.
The victim also told police that Gallagher provided her with crack cocaine and vodka.
While staying with Gallagher, the victim reported that she was forced to cook, clean and take care of Gallagher's grandchild, who was staying at the residence with them. If Gallagher became upset with the victim, he often took it out on his grandchild, she said.
Gallagher allegedly kept the doors to the home locked, and the victim was afraid to try and leave, even though she wanted to. Gallagher forced her to sleep with him in the home's living room while his grandchild was present. He also allegedly threatened to hurt the victim if she attempted to escape, she told authorities.
Eventually, Gallagher discovered the victim was a runaway, she reported. At that point, he took her to Ricci Park in Lower Paxton Township, provided her with a cell phone number, and said he'd return to pick her up in a few hours.
Gallagher later told police he dropped the victim off about 45 minutes after discovering she was a runaway, according to the complaint. He provided a physical description of the victim and her location, and authorities soon found her.
The victim immediately reported the rape to police and was taken to a nearby hospital to have a rape kit completed.
Gallagher was charged on Nov. 26 with rape, unlawful contact with a minor, false imprisonment, indecent assault, aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, delivering crack cocaine to a minor, furnishing alcohol to minors and concealing the whereabouts of a child.
