Man allegedly raped child, knew son was molesting children in Renovo home
Renovo, Pa. — A man is facing multiple felony charges after state police say delayed disclosures led to an investigation into the sexual abuse of three children that began years earlier in Renovo.
Ronald J. Hawkins, 45, of Philadelphia is accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl. He is also accused of knowing his then-16-year-old son was sexually assaulting children in the household while failing to report or stop the abuse, according to a police criminal complaint filed in late October by Trooper Dylan Houser of PSP Lamar.
Police allege the offenses occurred on or about Dec. 1, 2018, primarily while the family lived on the 300 block of Champlain Avenue in Renovo, and later at other residences in the Renovo area and on Euclid Avenue in Duboistown around 2020.
A report was received by the PSP Lamar barracks on May 8 this year, alleging sexual assaults against three young victims: two girls born in 2010 and 2013, and a boy born in 2008. Hawkins is the biological father of one of the children, police said.
Their mother told investigators she was in a relationship with Hawkins at the time and that the group lived together in Renovo beginning in late 2018 or early 2019.
Forensic interviews of the children were conducted June 26 at the Child Advocacy Center of the Central Susquehanna Valley. One victim said Hawkins showed her a pornographic video and then forced her to perform oral sex on him.
Another claim from a victim indicated Hawkins knew his son was sexually assaulting the children. The son was interviewed and admitted to committing sexual assaults against the three victims, according to the affidavit.
On Aug. 29, Houser interviewed Hawkins by phone from the Lamar barracks on a recorded line. Hawkins said he knew “something” was going on between his son and the victims and said he had pulled the female victims aside separately to question them. He denied showing pornography or making the 6-year-old perform oral sex.
Investigators noted signs of deception during the interview, including inconsistencies and inappropriate laughter when Hawkins was confronted with the accusations. Multiple attempts to arrange a polygraph test with Hawkins were unsuccessful, police said.
Hawkins was arrested and arraigned on Nov. 4 on charges of child rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, endangering welfare of children, and corruption of minors.
Hawkins is currently jailed in the Clinton County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. A bail hearing and his preliminary hearing are both set for Nov. 16.
Hawkins has a lengthy criminal history in Lycoming County, including serious drug charges he pleaded guilty to in 2009 and 2021.
Oregon man who made obscene calls, claiming he was sexually abusing children, heads to prison
A 23-year-old Oregon man who made threatening phone calls claiming he was engaging in child sexual abuse was sentenced Tuesday to seven years and three months in federal prison.
Thomas Loren Goatley, of Umatilla, claimed during calls to elementary schools, police departments, animal shelters and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that he was sexually assaulting young children, according to the prosecutor. In a phone call to an elementary school in New Castle, Wyoming, he claimed he was abusing a student he had abducted from the school, sending all New Castle schools into lockdown, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mira Chernick’s sentencing memo.
When Goatley was arrested in July 2024, he possessed roughly 50 images and 40 videos of child sex abuse. Investigators learned he had been using Instagram, Facebook, Discord and X to view, receive and distribute child sex-abuse images between September 2023 and late April 2024, according to Chernick.
U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon accepted the sentence jointly recommended by the federal prosecutor and defense lawyer.
Chernick noted that while the crimes were “quite serious,” Goatley was fairly young when he made the calls in 2024.
This past summer, Goatley pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child pornography and four counts of making obscene or harassing telephone calls.
Assistant Federal Public Defender Michelle Sweet told the judge that Goatley accepted responsibility shortly after his arrest.
“I have no reasonable excuse for my actions. I deeply apologize,” Goatley said at his sentencing.
He told the judge he will spend his time in custody working to improve himself and learn healthier coping methods “to ensure I never repeat the harms I caused.”
Yerdon gets 21 years in prison for having child sex abuse images
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)– James Yerdon, a man accused of sexually abusing children in Albany County and admitted to receiving and possessing child sex abuse images has been sentenced in federal court. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Yerdon was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in prison.
The case against Yerdon began in May 2025 after multiple images and videos depicting child sex abuse were found on his phone. Officials said the material reportedly found included the abuse of children as young as 5 months old, as well as nude images of a 7-year-old child that Yerdon had allegedly created during a trip he took with the victim to the Albany area.
Yerdon pleaded guilty to both the receipt and possession of child sex abuse images in May 2026.
“Mr. Yerdon had no regard for his victims or their well-being, instead he took advantage of them in the most deplorable manner,” State Police Superintendent Steven James said. “This case serves as a reminder that those who prey on vulnerable and defenseless individuals, especially when they are in a place of trust, will be fully prosecuted.”
Officials said Yerdon, a previously convicted sex offender, is still awaiting sentencing in Albany County, after admitting to traveling to the Capital Region and raping two young boys.
In the federal case, Yerdon received the prison sentence but also was sentenced to serve 20 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Yerdon will also be required to pay $26,000 in restitution to the victims.
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