Former firefighter charged with abusing 14 children

It was while they were investigating arson charges involving a former volunteer firefighter that Delaware County detectives learned of more disturbing allegations involving pornography, rape, sexual abuse, and the assaults of 14 children as young as 8.

On Friday, District Attorney Jack Whelan announced the arrest of John P. Corcoran, 20, of Glenolden. He was charged with 161 counts of rape, sexual assault, indecent exposure, and related crimes from December 2012 to December 2014.

"This case is particularly heinous," Whelan said, calling Corcoran a "dangerous child predator."

While he was out on bail for the arson charges, Corcoran's sexual exploitation of children continued, Whelan said.

Corcoran was returned to the Delaware County Jail on Friday after he did not post bail. He has been held there since his arrest in December for allegedly supplying children with pornography.

"No comment," Corcoran said as he moved past the gauntlet of photographers outside the Delaware County Courthouse on his way to a waiting police car.

Efforts to reach Corcoran's attorney were not successful.

Whelan said that for four years, Corcoran lured, groomed, and sexually abused children at his home, in a locker room at the Ridley Township YMCA, and at the Swedish Cabin, a historical site in Drexel Hill. While his focus was on young boys, Corcoran exploited girls as well, Whelan said.

"We believe there are other victims out there," Whelan said.

Other charges for incidents that occurred during the two years when Corcoran was under age were filed in juvenile court, Whelan said.

"We will be moving to have the juvenile charges transferred to adult court," Whelan said.

In August, Corcoran, a former volunteer firefighter with Goodwill Fire Company No. 1 in Darby Township, was arrested and charged with three arsons and 76 related counts. According to court records, Corcoran and a 17-year-old juvenile burned down three vacant houses. Corcoran later told police he responded to help fight two of the blazes.

During that investigation, a 12-year-old boy told detectives that Corcoran gave him "sexually explicit materials" on two occasions, officials said. In a later interview, the boy told investigators that Corcoran bribed him and other boys with the promise of toy cars and money to engage in sexual acts, according to court documents.

Another 12-year-old victim told police Corcoran would take them to the Ridley YMCA and encourage them to disrobe and slide around the floor. He allegedly assaulted two victims in the bathroom, according to court documents.

"We were obviously not aware this was going on here," said Michael Ranck, president of the Ridley Area YMCA.

Ranck said Corcoran, who was not on staff or a volunteer, was asked not to return to the facility until his arson charges were resolved.

A 12-year-old female victim told police she and two other children were in Corcoran's hot tub when he told them to take their clothes off. Corcoran later used his phone to make videos of one naked child.

Investigators found 54 sexually explicit images and one video on Corcoran's BlackBerry, according to court documents.

Corcoran also befriended a 19-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities, coerced her to take her clothes off, and photographed her. He showed those images to other victims to entice them into sexual acts, according to court documents.

"It is so shocking to see one individual cause so much destruction," Whelan said.

Staff photographer Alejandro A. Alvarez contributed to this article.