WEST CHESTER, PA — The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the East Pikeland Police Department announced the arrest of Keith Cleghorn, 36, of Stowe, PA, for allegedly raping a female employee during a massage at the Seven Stars Spa and Bodyworks in Phoenixville, Chester County on January 9, 2023. The defendant is charged with rape, terroristic threats, simple assault, unlawful restraint, and related offenses. He is held at Chester County Prison on $500,000 cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge John Hipple.
“This was a shocking forcible rape that occurred at the victim’s place of work. The defendant did not know the victim, wore a mask, and threatened to kill her if she screamed. Thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement and irrefutable evidence of the defendant’s digital footprint the community is safer with his arrest,” stated Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan.
The allegations in the complaint are the following:
On January 9, 2023, at approximately 12:11 p.m. the East Pikeland Police Department received a report of a sexual assault that occurred at the Seven Stars Spa and Bodyworks in Phoenixville, Chester County. The victim stated, through the assistance of Language Line, that at approximately 11:10 a.m. an unknown male called the spa to inquire if it was open and stated he would be there in ten minutes. When he arrived, he wore a surgical mask that covered the lower portion of his face, and was described as a white, bald male in his 40’s. No one else was at the spa at the time. The victim directed the defendant to a massage room and gave him time to undress. Once the massage began the defendant grabbed the victim’s pants and she told him, “No. No. No, just a massage.” He then sat up, held her arms, and pushed her onto the table. The victim stated that she yelled for help and he told her that he would kill her if she did not stop screaming. She said that he made motions with his fists indicating that he would hit her if she did not comply. The defendant pulled off the victim’s pants and underwear and vaginally raped her.
Police obtained video surveillance footage from various companies at the Kimberton Shoppes showing the male entering the spa and were able to track down the defendant from the video of his license plate.
During the investigation, computer forensics detectives were able to confirm that a Google search for the spa was found on the defendant’s cell phone. GPS location data showing the defendant to be at the spa was embedded in a video recorded on the defendant’s cell phone. The video also captured the defendant removing all of his clothes and shows him attempting to conceal the cell phone under his shirt while it recorded. Further examination revealed that there was an attempt to delete the video from the defendant’s cell phone.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled on January 26, 2023, before Judge John Hipple. Chester County Detectives and East Pikeland Police are investigating. Deputy District Attorney Kathleen Wright is the assigned prosecutor.
If you have information about this case, call Chester County Detective Christine Bleiler at 610-344-6866.
Information, a criminal complaint, or an arrest is not a declaration of guilt. A suspect, arrestee, or defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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