BROOKHAVEN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A manager at a pizza shop in Delaware County has been suspected of rape and sexual abuse against a number of young girls who worked under him. Officials have asked others who believe they’ve been victimized to come forward.
According to charging documents, Justin Pate, 32, used his position as a manager at Pat’s Pizza in Brookhaven to have sexual relations with and exploit teenage girls who worked there. Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said they know of at least three victims.
“This is a very disturbing case of someone who is a serial child abuser,” he said. “We’ve charged him with dozens of counts of child abuse and rape and he’s going to be held accountable in the courts in Delaware County.”
Stollsteimer said Pate’s known victims were ages 15, 16 and 17.
“In the first case the accusation is that he actually raped this young lady,” Stollsteimer explained. “[He] brought her to his house, got himself inebriated with alcohol and raped her.”
In another case, Stollsteimer said Pate gave one of the girls alcohol in exchange for porographic pictures. In the third case, he sought a long term relationship with the girl, whose parents eventually got wind of what was going on.
“They came forward, reported it to police and got this whole ball rolling,” he said. “If there are any other victims out there, we encourage them to come forward like these brave young women and their parents did.”
Pate was arrested last week and is currently detained in county jail, where he awaits an Aug. 7 hearing. He was denied bail.