NEWPORT, Pa. — A Dauphin County man has been accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and a girl when she was between the ages of 8 and 9 in separate incidents, according to criminal complaint affidavits filed by State Police.
Jeromy Paul Baum, 46, of Halifax, was charged on March 20 with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16, corruption of minors, and unlawful contact with a minor in connection to his alleged sexual assault of the male victim.
Following his initial arrest, police said, the second victim came forward with allegations that Baum raped her multiple times when she was under 10 years old.
State Police said Baum has been in contact with multiple other male and female children who have reported sexual assaults, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about possible additional victims of Baum is asked to call State Police at (717) 877-2291.
Police began investigating Baum on March 19, when the father of his first victim contacted authorities. The victim reported he had met Baum online.
The victim said Baum told him he was 33 years old. Baum was aware that the victim was underage, according to police.
On the afternoon of March 19, police said, Baum allegedly drove to the victim's home and engaged in sex acts with the victim in an upstairs room. After their alleged encounter, Baum continued to contact the victim, according to police.
On the morning of March 20, police said, the victim contacted Baum again using the Snapchat app and invited him to his home again for another encounter. Police were waiting at the victim's home, and took Baum into custody when he arrived at 8:30 a.m., according to the complaint.
Baum allegedly admitted to engaging in sex acts and exchanging nude photos with the victim in an interview with police, according to the complaint.
The second victim came forward after learning of Baum's arrest, police said in a separate complaint. She reported that Baum sexually assaulted her while he was living in Centre Township, Perry County.
Baum would reportedly warn her not to tell anyone because "he would get into trouble."
Baum is charged with rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, and aggravated indecent assault of a child, according to the complaint.
Baum is being held in Perry County Prison. He initially posted bail of $150,000 following his first arrest but was unable to post bail of $1.5 million on the second, according to court records.
He faces a preliminary hearing on April 3.
