Alsace Township man charged with sexual abuse of boy

Jan. 13—An Alsace Township man has been charged with sexually assaulting a boy over six years, starting when the youth was 10, Berks County detectives said Wednesday.

Jackie E. Reifsnyder, 59, of the 300 block of Skyline Drive surrendered Wednesday morning accompanied by his attorney at the detectives' office after learning the charges were filed Tuesday.

He faces four counts each of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, child endangerment and related counts.

According to investigators:

On June 30, Muhlenberg Township police met with the parents of a 16-year-old boy who had been sexually abused over the previous six years. The suspect was identified as Reifsnyder, a family acquaintance.

Muhlenberg police referred the child abuse complaint to the county detectives.

On July 9, a forensic interview was conducted with the victim at the Children's Alliance Center. The victim disclosed specific details about the abuse he said occurred over the past six years in three Berks residences.

Reifsnyder lavished the boy with gifts to maintain his silence about the abuse.

Reifsnyder was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail following video arraignment before District Judge Steven M. Chieffo.

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