Sex charges land man in jail

Harford County (Map, News) - A Harford businessman is being held on a $1 million bond on charges of sexually abusing a teenage boy, who worked for him, on as many as 200 occasions, prosecutors said Friday.

Sheriff’s deputies worked with Harford’s Child Advocacy Center in arresting William Leslie Harrison, 62, of Bel Air,  this week on charges of sexual abuse, sexual solicitation of a minor, third- and fourth-degree sex offense, second-degree assault and second-degree child abuse by a custodian, according to court records. 

“If anyone else is familiar with this individual and either has information or wishes to come forward as victims themselves, we urge them to contact the [Child Advocacy Center,]” said Harford State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly.

“People don’t normally start this behavior out of the blue,” said Assistant State’s Attorney Bruce Smith.

“This type of behavior leads us to believe that this method has been honed over time ... it takes a long time between when a potential victim is identified and when actual abuse takes place.”

Harrison, owner of Trenton Property Service in downtown Bel Air, had employed the boy, then 14, when the abuse allegedly began around October 2006, Smith said.

The victim, now 15, came to the child advocacy center and spurred the investigation, he said.

Police executed search warrants of Harrison’s house, business and vacation property on the Eastern Shore, said Smith, who would discuss anything discovered because the investigation is ongoing.

Harrison, whose $1 million bond was upheld in Harford District Court on Thursday, has retained Bel Air Town Commissioner David Carey as his attorney.

Carey could not be reached for comment Friday.

Harrison is at the Harford County Detention Center.

TO CALL

Anyone who needs to contact Harford’s Child Advocacy Center can call 410.638.3294.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com

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