Police charge man
in rape of his niece

Local authorities have charged a Holmesburg man with the rape of his 6-year-old niece while babysitting her on Jan. 16.
The crime occurred at about 6:30 p.m. in a home near Frankford and Shelmire avenues, said Capt. John Darby, commander of the Philadelphia Police Department’s special victims unit.
Darby declined to disclose the name of the uncle or other details of the case to protect the identity of the victim. According to court records, the defendant is 26-year-old Victor Sanchez.
Police were notified of the attack at about 8:15 that night and made contact with Sanchez, who surrendered to Abington Township police.
City authorities later took him into custody and charged him with rape, statutory sexual assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment and related offenses. He is also charged with photographing or filming a sex act involving a child. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail. No hearing date has been set.
The victim was treated at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and has been released. ••