Bucks D.A. asks other victims to come forward

            A Sellersville man accused of raping an underage girl in Quakertown is scheduled to appear before a Bucks County Common Pleas Court judge later this week. Miguel Angel Sanchez, 32, faces 20 criminal counts, including 17 felony charges.

            Quakertown police arrested Sanchez on Nov. 3 following an incident in the

Miguel Angel Sanchez

parking lot at Giant, located at 1465 W. Broad St. On Oct. 24, Quakertown police took a report of a rape that happened the night before. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, told police a man, later identified as Sanchez, raped her inside his vehicle, which she described as a white, four-door vehicle, according to information posted on the site.

            Quakertown police were able to review surveillance videos from the area and observed a white sedan in the Giant parking lot at the time of the rape. The vehicle was linked to Sanchez, and his driver's license photo matched a photo found on the victim's phone.

            The Bucks County District Attorney's Office and the Quakertown Borough Police Department strongly believe there may be other victims and are asking for them to please come forward. Anyone with information can contact Detective Ryan Naugle of the Quakertown Borough Police Department at 215-536-5002.

            The victim told police she met Sanchez on one prior occasion, and they exchanged contact information through Snapchat. During those conversations, law enforcement officials claim Sanchez would ask the victim for videos of her nude and/or performing sex acts in exchange for money. Sanchez also allegedly communicated with one of the victim's friends, a 16-year-old girl, through Snapchat. Authorities claim he also asked her for sex videos in exchange for money.

            Sanchez faces one count each of first-degree rape, statutory sexual assault, two counts of indecent statutory assault, one count of unlawful contact with a minor and two counts of trafficking.

            He has also been charged with second-degree felonies that include one count each of sexual assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and three counts of aggravated indecent assault, along with two third-degree counts of corruption of minors and related misdemeanors, according to information posted on state judicial website.

            During a Nov. 3 preliminary arraignment, Richland Township District Judge Lisa Gaier denied bail in the case. Sanchez remains in custody at Bucks County prison.

            Gaier deemed Sanchez as a flight risk since he is facing criminal charges in Montgomery County. Pottstown police filed one count of felony strangulation and seven related misdemeanors following a July 22, 2022 incident, according to information posted on a state judicial website.

On Nov. 16, the defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing on all 20 counts before Gaier. According to the site, a formal arraignment in Doylestown is scheduled for noon on Friday.

            Deputy District Attorney Brittney M. Kern is prosecuting the case. Mark David Rassman, a private attorney from Kennett Square, is representing Sanchez.