Eric Bodenweiser: 113 Felony Counts Of Child Abuse | Delaware Way

Eric Bodenweiser: 113 Felony Counts Of Child Abuse | Delaware Way:

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Bodenweiser, 53, faces 39 charges of first-degree rape and 74 charges of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree; all charges involved a minor.

According to a press release from the Attorney General's Office Bodenweiser turned himself in to Delaware State Police at the Sussex County Courthouse, was arraigned in Superior Court and was committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of $250,000 secured bail.

The Attorney General's Office's press release says the investigation that led to the charges was initiated by Delaware State Police several weeks ago after police received information that Bodenweiser had sexually abused a child. As a result of the investigation, prosecutors sought the indictment, which charges Bodenweiser with the sexual abuse of a juvenile victim between October 1987 and August 1990.

Bodenweiser, of Georgetown, unseated incumbent Sen. Joe Booth in the Sept. 11 primary election for the GOP nomination for state Senate District 19. However, in October, Bodenweiser failed to appear at several campaign events. He suspended his campaign Oct. 12 and then withdrew from the race Oct. 18.

Former Georgetown Mayor Brian Pettyjohn filed as a write-in candidate Oct. 1. Pettyjohn has been endorsed by state and county Republican leaders.

Democrat Jane Hovington is the only candidate who will appear on the ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 6 election to represent voters in Senate District 19.

According to Delaware code, a person is guilty of unlawful sexual contact in the second degree when the person has sexual contact with another person who is less than 18 years of age or causes the victim to have sexual contact with the person or a third person.