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Kenneth Walls, a 77-year-old Downingtown resident and former staff football coach at Downingtown West High School, is being held at Chester County Prison in lieu of a $100,000 cash bond, said District Attorney Deb Ryan in a statement Friday, Nov. 4.
Police began examining Walls after the child told a staff member at her school, which is not in Chester County, that she was being sexually abused, the DA said.
Investigators said the 77-year-old groomed the child with expensive gifts, called and texted her weekly, and sexually abused her at his Downingtown home on multiple occasions since 2020.
"Each day that parents send their children to school, they entrust our district with their safety," said Downingtown Area School District Superintendent Robert O’Donnell.
"As a district, we take that responsibility seriously and will continue to work with our staff, students, families, law enforcement and community to maintain a safe educational environment for all children.”
Walls was previously a staff football coach with the district and had recently volunteered for an assistant coach position, according to prosecutors.
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