Delaware Child Rapist Sentenced

(Georgetown, Delaware) Last Friday, 58-year-old Earl Bradley, a pediatrician, was sentenced to 14 life prison terms stemming from convictions on 14 counts of first-degree rape.

Bradley also received 165 years in prison for multiple counts of assault and sexual exploitation of a children.

Bradley recorded homemade videos of the abuse, said prosecutors, who presented the judge with more than 13 hours of videos showing sex crimes against more than 80 victims, most of whom were toddlers.

The case rocked the close-knit community of Lewes, a town of about 3,100 on the southern Delaware coast. Families had to identify victims, and the scandal pitted some spouses against each other, and parents against grandparents. Guilt over leaving children alone with Bradley lurked in the background for some.

Bradley's office in Lewes was known for its many toys, merry-go-round and Ferris wheel. While Bradley secretly recorded some videos in Disney-themed exam rooms, the most brutal attacks occurred in a basement or a backroom where he lured children with promises of candy or toys.

Bradley's arrest followed previous police investigations and years of suspicions among parents. His colleagues also questioned his strange behavior, including being overly affectionate with children and not looking adults in the eye.

Disturbingly, Bradley's molestation of children occurred for years despite parents' suspicions and police investigations.

The Delaware medical licensing board was criticized for not reporting alleged illegal behavior by Bradley. Also, state law has been changed to tighten reporting requirements.

Tip: mike