Cops say man awaiting sentencing in sexual assault killed himself this week

James Peirce would have turned 61 on Tuesday, the same day he was scheduled to be sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl.

He opted not to celebrate his birthday or go to jail, police say. Instead, they say, he jumped into the Delaware River.

"Self-imposed death penalty," said Kevin Steele, first assistant district attorney in Montgomery County, where Peirce pleaded guilty in April to aggravated indecent assault.

Steele said Peirce sexually assaulted the girl, who was a family friend, last August.

His body was recovered by the Philadelphia Police Marine Unit shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday in the river behind the Dietz & Watson meat-processing plant on Tacony Street, said Officer Jillian Russell, a police spokeswoman.

Russell said Peirce, who had addresses in Philadelphia and Telford, Montgomery County, may have jumped from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. He likely jumped on Monday, she said.

Montgomery County detectives had been searching for Peirce after he failed to show up in Norristown on Tuesday afternoon for his sentencing before Judge William J. Furber Jr.

"When he didn't appear, a bench warrant was issued and they went out looking for him," Steele said.

County authorities were informed Wednesday night that his body had been found in the river.

Jeff Moran, spokesman for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office, said yesterday that the cause of Peirce's death was drowning and the manner was suicide.