LANCASTER, PA — A Lancaster man, previously charged in a cold case sexual assault from 1997, now faces additional charges as the investigation into his alleged crimes continues to unfold. The case raises troubling questions about the persistence of child exploitation and the crucial role of digital evidence in modern law enforcement, announced the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday.
Eric Dorwart, 54, of Pleasure Road, Lancaster, was hit with new charges connected to a search warrant executed by the Pennsylvania State Police at his residence on Aug. 15, 2023. The charges include photographing, filming, and depicting a computer sex act with a child under 18; possessing child pornography; rape of a child; involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child; and aggravated indecent assault of a child.
During the search, police recovered two laptops, which a family member indicated were used by Dorwart. An iPhone was also found in the garage. A subsequent examination of these devices revealed disturbing content: approximately 464 fetish-related images, with 61 consistent with child pornography featuring infant and toddler-aged victims. The laptops contained an additional 1,672 images suggestive of child pornography and associated erotica, with 167 images allegedly showing Dorwart engaged in sexual contact with three separate prepubescent children.
Investigators are working diligently to identify the victims, who they believe may have been infants that the Dorwart family babysat. Anyone with information that could assist in identifying the victims or any additional potential victims is encouraged to contact Pennsylvania State Police Troopers Dakota Baer or Brian McNally at 717-299-7650.
This development follows Dorwart’s charging in Oct. 2023 for a cold-case sexual assault that occurred in 1997 in Leacock Township. The victims were aged 7 and 5 at the time. After an extensive investigation and DNA analysis, Dorwart became a suspect in May 2023. He was subsequently charged and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Dorwart is currently in custody pending arraignment on the new charges. As with all defendants in our legal system, Dorwart is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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