Jail for former PAL volunteer who sexually abused child – NBC10 Philadelphia

A former volunteer coach for the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia was sentenced to four to eight years in prison after pleading guilty in connection with the March 2022 sexual assault of a child.

On Tuesday, former PAL volunteer coach, 28-year-old Marquis Graham, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges of sexual battery and unlawful contact with a minor following an incident on March 9, 2022.

He pleaded guilty to the charge in December last year.

Additionally, Graham initially faced more serious charges of rape and sexual assault in the case, but those charges were dropped when Graham pleaded guilty to other charges.

According to court documents, Graham was arrested and charged after a 15-year-old who regularly attended a PAL center on the 3100 block of Ridge Avenue in the city’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood reported to police that she had been assaulted by Graham.

The victim told police that Graham offered her a ride to work as she was leaving the center that day, and when Graham entered her vehicle, he attacked her, court documents said.

Graham was arrested several days after the incident while hiding in the basement of a home on the 100 block of West Nevada Street in North Philadelphia.

After the verdict, a representative from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office told NBC10 that the victim was pleased with the outcome of the case.