Norristown Officer Barred from Contact With Alleged Victim at Home

The Norristown police officer charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in his North Coventry home on Sept. 13 is barred from several avenues of contact with her as a condition of his bail.  

The release conditions Officer Nicholas Santo’s bail bond indicate: “[n]o contact with victims and victim’s family at residence, including social media.”

Santo, who faces multiple charges, is on administrative leave.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by the Chester county detective assigned to Santo’s investigation, on Sept. 13 the alleged victim, her young brother and Santo were cuddled on his bed in his home because of the cold. The victim told law enforcement that Santo was rubbing her stomach, and then touched her inappropriately and said something that referenced the bodily contact.

The victim then told Dana Santo. There was a child abuse report made at the Chester County Office of Children, Youth and Families, which was received by the investigating detective on Sept. 18.

Santo is facing charges of indecent assault where the person is less than 13 years of age, criminal attempt of aggravated indecent assault where the person is less than 13 years of age, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors where the defendant is age 18 or above, according to court documents.

Santo had his preliminary arraignment in the magisterial district court of judge Analisa Sondergaard on Sept. 18 at 9:30 p.m. According to the office of magisterial district judge James V. Deangelo, who will preside over Santo’s preliminary hearing on Nov. 21, Santo’s Sept. 18 court proceeding was held in an after-hours court.

His bail was set at $25,000 and afterwards he was taken to the Chester County Prison in Pocopson and released the next day after posting bail, according to court documents.

Santo gained notoriety as a rookie police officer in Norristown in 1996 when he reportedly broke the arm of a mentally ill man who spoke limited English, after Santo confronted the man, who he said was wandering around in the same area for half an hour and did not cooperate with him, according to Philly.com. Then-police chief Thomas Stone said that the incident was reviewed and nothing amiss had happened.   

Santo was again in the public eye in 2011, after shooting through the windshield of a man who was allegedly trying to run him down in a vehicle, according to The Times Herald. The driver who he shot and wounded, Marcus Pannell, was later charged with aggravated assault, car theft and other charges.

The police department said that Santo had followed proper procedure and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, after reviewing the incident, concluded that Santo was in the right.

Willie Richet, the Norristown Chief of Police, indicated that Santo is on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation and trial, according to The Mercury.

Richet said that he was surprised after hearing about the charges against Santo.