Dauphin County man bought relative a house so he could sexually abuse her: court docs

A Highspire man used his purchase of a home for a female relative as leverage to sexually abuse her repeatedly, police said in court documents filed this week.

The woman told police that she was hesitant to report the abuse she suffered at the hands of Robert W. Leeper, 66, of Hummelstown, out of fear he would evict her from her home, which he’d bought for her in June 2022.

Leeper was charged on April 4 with aggravated indecent sexual assault and incest. He was released four days later after posting $50,000 bail, online court records show.

Highspire police started investigating the allegations against Leeper after his relative contacted them in January. She told police that Leeper made multiple unwanted advances toward her in November and December 2023 in her Highspire home, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Leeper groped the woman and forced her to have sex with him, the affidavit said.

“You have to listen to me because I got you this house, so now you can do something for me,” Leeper told the woman, according to court documents.

Leeper later admitted to detectives that he’d had sexual contact with his relative. However, he denied the acts were abuse, claiming they were consensual and initiated by the woman, the affidavit said.

Leeper was arraigned on the sexual assault charges on April 4. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 23 in front of Magisterial District Judge Kenneth Lenker.

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