Delaware State Police have charged a 26-year-old Smyrna man with seven counts of rape involving an 11-year-old girl.
The girl’s mother also was arrested after she allegedly failed to report her child was endangered by the suspect.
The assaults allegedly occurred between May and June 27, and the case began after the girl told a school counselor, who then notified the Division of Family Services of the attacks, said department spokesman Sgt. Walter Newton.
The girl told the counselor she did not want to be around the suspect, identified as Daniel Webber, of the Holly Hill Estates, because he had hurt her, Newton said. DFS officials interviewed the girl, her mother, and Webber, but could not obtain any credible evidence of misconduct. The mother also told DFS personnel that Webber is a friend of the family and often cared for the girl after school.
On June 27, Newton said DFS received a report of an older male was kissing a young girl on the lips while the pair was at the beach. In addition the report indicated another couple was with the man and the girl. The eyewitness provided a registration number to a car that the four drove off in. DFS began a joint investigation with the state police and it was learned that the vehicle belonged to Webber.
Troopers executed a search warrant of Webber's home and collected evidence linking him to the sexual assault against the child. Troopers also learned the victim's mother was one of the individuals present the day Webber and the girl were spotted on the beach.
Webber was charged with three counts of first-degree rape, four counts of second-degree rape, and numerous counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
The mother’s name is not being disclosed to protect the girl’s identity.
Bail information for Webber and the mother was not available.
