Quote:A Democrat elected official in Darby Township, Pennsylvania, has been arrested and charged with raping a 15-year-old boy after a lengthy investigation.
Marvin Smith, 50, was elected to the Darby Township Board of Commissioners in 2019. He turned himself in to the Philadelphia Police Department last week on charges of rape, sexual assault, and other charges. The alleged rape occurred in 2017.
According to Philadelphia police, “On April 15, 2019, the complainant stated to Philadelphia police that on August 12, 2017, he was sexually assaulted.”
Detectives added, “Smith was in a vehicle and approached the complainant, stating that he was a family friend, and offered to give him a ride home.”
Darby Township officials issued a statement that said, “The Township takes these matters very seriously and will cooperate to the fullest extent with any investigation related to Commissioner Smith.”
According to Open Secret, Smith was charged with 10 counts including
Rape by forcible compulsion
Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse by forcible compulsion
Statutory sexual assault
Indecent assault
Luring a child into a motor vehicle
Corruption of a minor
Reckless endangerment
From ABC:
The victim then allegedly told investigators Smith sexually assaulted him after driving him to an area in Cobbs Creek Park on the 200 block of South 63rd Street.
After the crime, Smith allegedly dropped off the victim in an undisclosed location.
Officials say an arrest warrant was issued for the commissioner on November 22, 2021. He turned himself in to Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit just over a month later.
It’s unclear at this point why the investigation took so long since the victim reported the incident back in 2019.