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Former Easton man accused of molesting girls while babysitting

Morning Call - 5/23/2017

May 23--EASTON -- An 80-year-old former Easton man is charged with two counts of child rape and related offenses after two girls reported he molested them starting eight years ago, according to court records.

Police said Austin Robert Strouse, who now resides on the 200 block of S. Main Street in Phillipsburg, admitted having sex with the two girls multiple times while he babysat them after school or over the summer starting in 2009. Strouse is charged with two counts each of rape of a child, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and indecent assault.

In April, Easton police were notified that two girls, who are now teens, told social workers they were sexually abused by Strouse between 2009 and 2011, according to court records. The girls said that Strouse would watch them over the summer and after school at his then-home on the 600 block of Northampton Street in Easton, police said. In 2009, the girls were 6- and 9-years-old, according to police. Strouse was 73.

The girls said Strouse would fondle them and engaged in oral sex with them, according to court records. Police said they interviewed Austin on May 10 and he admitted raping the girls and fondling them.

Austin was arrested Tuesday morning and arraigned before District Judge Antonia Grifo in Easton. He was sent to Northampton County prison on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing on the charges is scheduled for June 7 before Grifo in Easton.

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