Man charged with raping 5-year-old girl – State’s first update

Detectives from the New Castle County Police Department have charged 47-year-old John Arnold with multiple counts of rape.

Officials said in July 2024, New Castle County Police were notified of a sexual assault of a child that occurred in the 2200 block of Thomas Road in Fairfax Township. Investigators with the New Castle County Police Criminal Investigation Division were notified and took over the investigation.

During the investigation, investigators learned that a 5-year-old victim reported that John Arnold had inappropriate sexual contact with her on multiple occasions, police said Friday. Investigators also found that John Arnold worked as an emotional support therapist for the Brandywine School District. Police say there is currently no evidence that any students from the Brandywine School District were victims.

JJohn Arnold was taken into custody on Thursday, July 11, 2024 and then transported to the New Castle County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with the following crimes:

• One count of first-degree rape, the victim is under the age of twelve.

• One count of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust in the first degree.

• One count of second-degree rape without consent.

• In one felony count, there were fewer than twelve victims of second-degree rape.

• One count of dangerous crime against a minor under fourteen years of age.

He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard Young Correctional Institution for failure to post $1,050,000.00 bail.