Man convicted of child abuse in Rice Township

WILKES-BARRE — A former Rice Township man who pleaded no contest to charges he sexually assaulted a girl will not face additional time in state prison.

William A. Beers, 48, was charged by Rice Township police in April 2019 with sexually assaulting the girl at his then Holland Street home, according to court records.

Court records say Beers grabbed the girl and took her to a bedroom, locking the door. When the two children entered the house, Beers unlocked the door and ran into the bathroom, flushing the toilet to make it look like he was using the toilet.

Beers was accused of sending the girl several text messages, including, “You make me feel so turned on” and “I’m so attracted to you,” according to court records.

In April, Beers pleaded no contest to charges of unlawful restraint and indecent assault before Luzerne County Circuit Judge David W. Lupas.

Beers’ sentencing hearing came after he was sentenced June 2 in D.C. District Court to two years, 10 months to 10 years in state prison on charges of indecent assault and child endangerment filed by Bloomsburg police. Beers chose not to contest the charges in the District of Columbia.

Lupas’ sentence was to run concurrently with the D.C. sentence, according to a plea agreement with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and Beers’ attorney, Daniel K. Hunter.

As a sex offender, Beers is subject to a 25-year registration of his address under the state’s Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.