CLAYSBURG - Accused Claysburg child molester Patrick Partsch's two weeks of freedom ended abruptly Thursday after police filed new child rape charges against him and his jailed wife, Tabatha Partsch.
New reports surfaced that Patrick Partsch, released on bail Aug. 30, had repeatedly raped an 11-year-old boy over several months last year while his then-girlfriend, Tabatha Partsch, watched, police said.
Patrick Partsch was staying with family in Johnstown, where police apprehended him Thursday afternoon before transferring him to Blair County, Greenfield Township Police Chief Ron Givler said.
The couple's alleged victim, now 12 and living in Wisconsin, suffered nightmares after learning that Patrick Partsch had been released on bail, police said in an affidavit.
"[The child] stated that he is afraid that Patrick is going to find his way out to Wisconsin and do harm to him," the affidavit read. "[The child] is also afraid that Patrick is going to find another child to abuse while he is out of jail."
The boy was recently diagnosed with an infection consistent with a sexually transmitted disease, police said.
The Partsches already faced multiple felony charges in what police described as a series of child assaults in the Claysburg mobile home where they lived. Despite his initial denial that anything illegal had taken place, Patrick Partsch ultimately professed his wife's alleged guilt and said he would seek a divorce.
The alleged victim reportedly told police the couple forced kids to watch as they molested other children, threatening beatings if the victims refused. New police reports include references to a 12- or 13-year-old girl whom they also allegedly abused.
The 12-year-old told police he recalled the alleged abuse while attending weekly counseling sessions in Wisconsin. He's written nearly four journals' worth of his memories, to be given to Milwaukee police and forwarded to Greenfield Township officers, according to the affidavit.
The child also reported that Patrick Partsch had called him in Wisconsin shortly before his first arrest in August, begging the alleged victim to change his story "and tell [police] that he made it all up so that the charges would go away."
Patrick Partsch now faces 11 new felony charges, including two counts of child rape, in addition to several earlier charges. He remains in Blair County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Police filed at least eight new felony charges against Tabatha Partsch, including conspiracy to rape a child and indecent assault. Ormsby added $100,000 to her earlier $250,000 bail; she remains in jail.
Both face preliminary hearings Thursday at Ormsby's office.
Mirror Staff Writer Ryan Brown is at 946-7457.
