(Wilmington, DE. 19808) Detectives from the New Castle County Division of Police have charged 54-year-old Thomas Barnhart with multiple counts of unlawful sexual contact. The charges follow an investigation into incidents reported in April 2024 in the 2700 block of Skylark Road. Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Unit were notified and took over the investigation.
Detectives found that between November 2021 and July 2023, Thomas Barnhart, an educator in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, made inappropriate sexual contact with two female victims, both aged 9, while they were at his home. After learning of the allegation, the Red Clay Consolidated School District was notified and fully cooperated with the investigation. Currently, there is no evidence suggesting that any students from the Red Clay School District were involved as victims.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Thomas Barnhart turned himself in at the New Castle County Police headquarters, where he was charged with the following crimes:
- Two felony counts of attempt to commit unlawful sexual contact with a person who is under 13 years old.
- One felony count of attempt to commit sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust 2nd degree.
- One felony count of unlawful sexual contact with a person who is under 13 years old.
- One felony count of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust 2nd degree.
- One misdemeanor count of offensive touching.
Thomas Barnhart was arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Howard Young Correctional Institution after failing to pay $100,200.00 cash bail.
The Division of Police is concerned that there might be other victims who have not yet come forward. Detectives urge anyone with information about this investigation to contact Detective Matthew Donovan at (302) 395-2781 or via email at Matthew.Donovan@newcastlede.gov
Thomas Barnhart-54
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