WEST CHESTER — Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe announced human trafficking of a minor and statutory sexual assault charges during a press conference on Friday morning.
A resident of Baltimore, Rogie Bantigue Legaspi, 56, is due to appear before Magistrate Judge Joseph Heffern at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 19. He has been charged with a score of felonies including trafficking, statutory sexual assault and related charges. He’s presently being held in Chester County Prison, Pocopson Township, in lieu of posting $5 million bail.
The DA was joined by First Assistant District Attorney Erin O’Brien, Chief County Detective David Sassa, Parkesburg Police Chief Ryan Murtagh, West Sadsbury Police Chief Ed Moore, Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Kalin, and Chester County Detective Gerald Davis. The press conference was held at the Chester County Court of Common Pleas in West Chester.
“The defendant has been charged with sex trafficking, 15 counts of sexual assault on a child, and the manufacturing of child sexual abuse material,” de Barrena-Sarobe said, adding there are a number of other related charges.
“Like all defendants, he’s innocent until proven guilty,” the DA said.
Legaspi was arrested on Sept. 18.
“This summer, law enforcement received a ChildLine report expressing concern about a now 15-year-old. That child was interviewed and reported that for roughly two years, he had been having intermittent sexual contact with a person that he knew as Alex. They met over an app when he was just 12 years old. The child reported the defendant would pay him $50 to $100 to have sex. The defendant would also purchase things for the child like perfume, lotion, and food. These acts occurred in both Chester and Lancaster counties, in the defendant’s car and in hotels,” de Barrena-Sarobe said.
“According to the victim, sometimes he would record the sexual assaults,” the DA continued. “He even had multiple discussions with the victim enticing him to have sex with another man. And in fact, that happened on one occasion. The defendant provided this child to have sex with another person.”
The DA said law enforcement worked with the victim to identify the man he knew as “Alex” as Legaspi.
“He was arrested when he arrived at the pre-planned meetup point in Parkesburg,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “The defendant coerced a child to have sex with him on multiple occasions with money, gifts, and other items. On at least one occasion, he brought another man to have sex with that child. This is child sex trafficking. Make no mistake about it.”
He said sex trafficking of minors “has no place in any community, let alone in Chester County. And we will not tolerate it.”
The DA said Legaspi was a long-time teacher who for some of his career taught middle school students.
“I’m certain that the parents of this defendant’s students in Baltimore have to be beyond disturbed by this news,” de Barrena-Sarobe said. “Teachers have a special place in our society. We trust them not only to watch our children when we send them to school, but to mold them, to teach them life lessons, not just math problems. And this defendant, this man shattered that trust.”
The DA said his team’s investigation has centered around the 15-year-old victim in Chester County.
“We will work with law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office across the region to make sure that every child victim gets justice. In cases like this, sometimes there are more victims,” the DA said.
The DA encouraged people to contact authorities to report if a child is in danger or if a child was in contact with Legaspi.
To report suspected child abuse, contact the Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866. People can also contact Pennsylvania’s ChildLine number at 1-800-932-0313.