The teenage girl who was allegedly “gifted” to a man 33 years her senior and gave birth to two of his children testified in court Tuesday.
The girl, now 18, moved in withLee Kaplan, of Feasterville, when she was 14 years old. Her ex-Amish parents, Daniel and Savilla Stolzfus, were in financial trouble and Kaplan had reportedly helped them out, though the family’s attorney disputed that claim in court Tuesday. Police said after a raid on Kaplan’s house in Junethat the girl had been “gifted”to Kaplan in return for his help to the Stolzfus family. In testimony Tuesday, the girl said she knew Kaplan, 51, long before she moved into his home in Feasterville in 2012, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. She added that she cares about him. Twelve girls in total were found living inside Kaplan’s home, with ages ranging from 6 months to 18 years. The girls are now reportedly in protective custody. Savilla Stolzfus also lived with Kaplan after the birth of her first grandchild; her husband would often visit, according to theInquirer. Daniel Stoltzfus, 43, and Savilla Stolzfus, 42, along with Kaplan, were arrested in June. Kaplan is charged with 10 countsof various sexual offenses, eight of them felonies, including statutory rape. Daniel Stoltzfus is charged with conspiracy to commit statutory sexual assault. Both he and Savilla Stoltzfus are also charged with endangering the welfare of children.
Lee Kaplan, Daniel & Savilla Stoltzfus to stand trial on “gifting” a 14yo girl into an alleged sexual relationship. pic.twitter.com/PuUN1iLoZB
— Jim Melwert (@JMelwert) August 2, 2016
