Lower Salford man admits to sexual abuse of girl, 10, and possessing child porn

NORRISTOWN — A Lower Salford Township man admitted to sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl on multiple occasions, during which he filmed some of the incidents, and to possessing 1,770 other images of child pornography.

Douglas Phillip Shade, 43, of the 400 block of Main Street, showed no emotion in Montgomery County Court on as he pleaded guilty to charges of aggravated indecent assault of a child under 13, indecent assault of a child under 13, corruption of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child, creating child pornography and possessing child pornography in connection with incidents that occurred between 2023 and 2024.

Judge Steven T. O’Neill deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Shade, who will undergo a sex offender assessment.

Overall, Shade faces a possible maximum sentence of 155½ to 311 years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for a lesser sentence.

At the very least, Shade will be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison, given that prosecutors are seeking a 10-year mandatory sentence, allowable under state law, for the charge of aggravated indecent assault, of which there are 10 counts. At sentencing time, prosecutors could argue for consecutive mandatory sentences for each of the 10 counts, for a minimum sentence of 100 years, and it would be up to the judge’s discretion if any of the sentences are imposed consecutively.

With the charges, prosecutors alleged Shade performed sex acts on a 10-year-old girl on at least 10 occasions while she was in his company, recorded some of the incidents on his cellphone, and photographed the girl in various stages of nudity or undress. Shade also admitted to possessing other child sexual abuse materials, including 17 videos and 1,770 images of children as young as 3 years old on his electronic devices, some of which depicted bestiality, all for his sexual gratification, according to testimony.

“Based on these actions, he is a danger to the community. He is a danger to minors. Because of that, and what the sentencing guidelines and the sentencing mandatories call for, the commonwealth will be asking for a state sentence,” Assistant District Attorney Margot Weitz said.

Weitz asked the judge to revoke Shade’s bail while he awaits sentencing. Even though Shade has appeared for all court hearings, Weitz said the circumstances have changed now that he has pleaded guilty and potentially faces a lengthy prison term.

“Circumstances have changed. The commonwealth has serious concerns about the defendant fleeing,” Weitz argued.

O’Neill allowed bail to remain at $50,000, 10%, but ordered that Shade be placed on electronic monitoring with an ankle bracelet that allows authorities to know where he is at all times.

Shade also faces an evaluation by the state’s Sexual Offender Assessment Board which will determine if he meets criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions while on parole or probation, including mandatory counseling and community notification about their housing arrangements.

Shade, who is represented by defense lawyer Vincent Erik Petersen, told the judge he suffers from depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Shade did not comment about the charges or his decision to plead guilty as he left the courtroom on bail to await sentencing.

The investigation began in July 2024 when Lower Salford police received a report from the child’s mother that her daughter disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by Shade while she was in his company, according to a criminal complaint filed by Lower Salford Police Officer Kathleen Byrne.

When the victim was interviewed by police and child social workers, she disclosed that Shade had sexual contact with her and inappropriately touched her on multiple occasions while she was in his company.

When authorities seized Shade’s cellphone and downloaded the contents, they “located a large amount of child pornography, to include pictures and videos depicting juveniles under the age of eighteen in various stages of undress and performing sexual acts,” Byrne alleged in the arrest affidavit.