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Dean E. Leon, 56 of Enola, was convicted on charges in connection with the repeated sexual assaults of his stepdaughter following a trial that concluded on Monday, Jan. 31, District Attorney Seán McCormack detailed in the release.
**Scroll Down To Read Statements From His Ex-Wife, The Victim's Mom**
The charges stem from an odd statement he made while being arrested for luring a 14-year-old girl to the Somers Point Library and building an online relationship with that child in 2017, the DA explained and the Somers Points police department detailed in its initial release.
While in custody in NJ "he made statements about having a 'sexually charged' relationship with his stepdaughter," the DA said, noting that a search of his phone showed "explicit images of his stepdaughter." An image even showed ridges that turned out to be his fingerprint.
His ex-wife reached out to Daily Voice and said he "is the monster I was married to and who hurt my daughter, beginning when she was only 12." She noted that "he had an opportunity to take a plea deal but preferred putting her through the trauma of testifying, I guess."
He was convicted of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse of a Child Less than 16, Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors, the DA said and court records confirmed. Two charges were dropped: Rape Unconscious Victim and Rape Substantially Impaired Person, his latest court docket shows.
The verdicts came at the end of a two-day trial where his stepdaughter testified to several incidents of sexual abuse before the court, the DA explained. This case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Julia Skinner.
Leon continues to serve out his 10 years in New Jersey state prison for child luring and endangering the welfare of a child, NJ court records show. His sentence is "subject to the No Early Release Act (NERA), which mandates that the defendant must serve 85% of the sentence," the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office stated in a release following that conviction in 2019.
Leon was a substitute teacher, his ex-wife told Daily Voice. He held a license to teach "Mid-Level Mathematics 6-9; Biology 7-12; General Science 7-12; Elementary K-6," according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. They had this license revoked on April 8, 2022.
"I shudder to think he may have hurt others," his ex-wife told us.
The District Attorney’s Office thanks Det. Sgt. Adam Shope, retired Det. Donald Rynard of the East Pennsboro Township Police Department, and Det. Peter Burns of the Somers Point, NJ police department for investigative efforts.
"Next is the sentencing. We are hoping he is put away for a very long time. He is a very sick individual and should be locked up for everything he did," his ex said.
Leon's sentencing for this case is set in Pennsylvania before Judge Jessica E. Brewbaker at 9 a.m. on April 30, according to an updated court docket.
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