Ex-Bucks coach charged with raping girl

A Bucks County man was charged Friday with allegedly raping a girl when she was between the ages of 11 and 13. Authorities said they are concerned about the possibility of more victims.

Keith Peschen is a former football coach and is the board president of the Levittown Lions, a youth football league with players and cheerleaders between the ages of 5 and 12.

Peschen, 37, of Peartree Lane in the Levittown section of Falls Township, faces charges that include rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, first-degree felonies each punishable by up 20 years in prison. District Judge Jan Vislosky sent him to the Bucks County prison with bail set at $1 million.

The victim, now 17, reported the rape over the summer to Falls Township police, who began an investigation, court records state.

The girl's mother and Peschen's wife had met at a parent-teacher organization meeting, and the families became friends, police said. The girl also was on a cheerleading squad that was part of the youth football league, police said.

The assaults began when she slept over at his house to babysit his children and continued for two years, according to court records.

This week, detectives recorded phone conversations during which the girl confronted Peschen about the rapes, police said. He allegedly acknowledged the assaults and apologized repeatedly. He then allegedly confessed to police on Friday when they brought him in for an interview, court records state.

Peschen ignored questions from reporters as he was led off to jail.

Anyone concerned about Peschen's having contact with other children is asked to call Falls Township police at 215-949-9100. - Ben Finley