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A North Philadelphia youth football coach charged last month with raping two children is facing new assault charges, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.
Prosecutors say Leon Watson, 24, sexually assaulted three young boys who played on his neighborhood football team, the Little Vicks, and assaulted a mentally disabled man.
Previously, Watson was charged with raping two other boys who played on the Little Vicks.
And juvenile records obtained by The Inquirer last month show that he was arrested five times as a teenager for sexually assaulting relatives - including a 3-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy.
Prosecutors say the three boys involved in the latest charges often slept over at Watson's house and were assaulted in his home on the 2400 block of West Diamond Street.
It's unclear how Watson came into contact with the mentally disabled man also mentioned in the charges.
Police arrested Watson at his home Nov. 10 after receiving an anonymous tip. He was initially charged with raping two brothers on the Little Vicks team, ages 8 and 9.
Watson was initially held on $500,000 bail, but has been held without bail since a hearing Nov. 25, when prosecutors said they were preparing more charges against him. He was arrested on the latest charges late Monday and is awaiting arraignment, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors are asking parents of team members to speak to their children about Watson as an investigation continues. Watson served as a part-time coach for the Rhawnhurst Raiders football team from August to October of this year; the Little Vicks were a neighborhood team formed by Watson.
Anyone with information on Watson should call 911 or the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251. They can also report sexual abuse to the District Attorney's Office at 215-686-8019 or via e-mail at [email protected].
215-854-2961 @aubreyjwhelan
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