PENNSYLVANIA
Bucks County Courier-Times
By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer
A former Morrisville pastor took his life Monday, a week before he was scheduled to go on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, who originally reported the crime to police in 1992.
Scott Sechrist, 61, was found dead inside his Bristol Township home, Bucks County prosecutor Jennifer Schorn confirmed Monday night. He left a suicide note maintaining his innocence, she added, but Schorn did not reveal the contents of the note.
Sechrist was awaiting trial on 20 counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with a victim under age 16, as well as multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault and other related crimes. He was free on $500,000 unsecured bail.
Bristol Township reopened the investigation last October after receiving a referral from the Bucks County District Attorney’s office involving the sexual assault allegations, which allegedly took place between 1989 and 1992, according to court records.
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