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GOT HER! PA mother, accused child rapist, arrested on incest allegations: DA

The arrest warrant for Sarah Lee Miller, also known as Sara Souder, was announced on her 35th birthday, May 8, court records show. Her last known address was in Nanticoke, Luzerne County. She was taken into custody later that day and her preliminary arraignment took place before District Judge John Bender, who set bail at $1 million on May 9, 2024. She was being held in the Lancaster County Jail.

Her father, John James DeHart, 56, of Camano Island, Washington, was once a Anti-crime activist in the Philadelphia area, as Numerous outlets reported when he was first arrested in 2013but since his Conviction in 2015Accordingly, he lives in Philadelphia as a registered sex offender the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law Sex Offender Registry. He was arrested there on new charges on April 18, 2024 and extradited to the Lancaster County Jail, where he remains on a $1 million bond set by District Judge Michael Hess.

DeHart and Miller were charged with the following crimes involving his grandchildren and their children, ages 4 to 6, from 2011 to 2013 while living at a home in the 2200 block of Seitz Drive, East Hempfield Township The police stated:

  • Rape of a child (two counts).

  • Criminal sexual assault (two counts).

  • Felony: Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child (two counts).

  • Crime of Incest (two counts).

  • Felony indecent assault of person under 13 years of age (three counts).

  • Crime of Corruption of Minors – Defendant 18 years of age or older.

  • Offense endangering the welfare of children – when parents/guardians/others commit an offense (two counts).

  • Misdemeanor terroristic threats with intent to terrorize others (DeHart only).

Following an interview with the three victims by Manor Township police, East Hempfield police were contacted on December 1, 2023 regarding the alleged abuse by DeHart and Miller.

According to the affidavits, DeHart’s abuse involved forcing the elementary school-aged child to participate in sexual encounters with his mother and grandfather. In one case, the child was forced to beat the naked mother with a wooden spoon, and another time the child was forced to strip naked in the basement and DeHart threatened them with “a small weapon” unless the child obeyed continues, as explained in the court documents.

In some of the nude incidents and shower assaults, Miller told the children involved that these things were “normal,” and as one victim said, “Since it was their mother who said these things, they believed her,” according to the affidavit quoted on Miller’s case.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp approved and prosecuted charges in both cases.

Anyone with further information about this case is asked to contact East Hempfield Township Police Department Detective Tyler Clisham at 717-898-3103 Click here to submit a tip online.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated following Miller’s arrest.

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