Taylor Twp. Supervisor Facing Sexual Assault-Related Charges

Editor’s Note: The following story contains details of alleged sexual assault that some readers might find disturbing. The Herald strongly urges reader discretion.

A Taylor Township supervisor is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges by two area police departments after two women alleged that he groped them and pressured them for sex.

William H. Replogle, 79, was arrested Friday, Feb. 18 and charged by Martinsburg police with two felony counts of indecent assault and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault, simple assault and indecent exposure. North Woodbury Township police filed charges of promoting prostitution and intimidation of a witness or victim.

According to the charges filed by North Woodbury Township police, on Jan. 7, a female tenant of Spring Drive Trailer Court went to the police station to report alleged incidents of stalking and harassment of a sexual nature by Replogle that she said included touching and attempts to solicit sexual favors in exchange for rent payments.

The victim told police that in the summer of 2019, she had contacted the owner of the trailer court and told him that she was having financial issues and may not be able to pay her rent on time. Shortly after that call, according to the victim, Replogle arrived at her residence and met her on the porch.

The victim told police that while discussing her financial problems with Replogle, he took a step forward and pretended to trip. The victim said when Replogle pretended to trip, he put one hand on the wall of the trailer and his other hand on her breast. Replogle allegedly told the victim he tripped because he was getting old but that he wasn’t worried about falling because the victim “was a big girl and could catch him.”

The victim said Replogle told her that she had “beautiful eyes” and that “plus sized women” was what he was attracted to. Replogle allegedly told the victim that he may be able to work something out with her rent and that he was the reason she was still allowed to remain in the trailer.

According to the victim, Replogle arrived back at her trailer several days later and asked if he could step inside, to which she “hesitantly” agreed. The victim said that Replogle told her that he could come into her trailer any time he wanted to because of his position as property manager.

The victim told police that Replogle asked her if she was still having financial problems and when she said yes, he allegedly told her he could mark her rent as paid in the owner’s book if the two of them came to some type of agreement. The victim said Replogle made the comment, “You know how that goes between an older man and a younger woman” and when the victim said, “Like a sugar daddy?” Replogle allegedly stated, “Well, yeah.” The victim said she told Replogle that he was making her uncomfortable and that her boyfriend was coming home from work, prompting Replogle to leave.

The victim told police that Replogle contacted her a short time later and told her not to tell anyone about their conversation.

The victim said that at one point she had a problem with the floor in her trailer and called to have someone fix it. She said Replogle told her he would send someone over to look at the floor, but that Replogle showed up alone. The victim said that while Replogle was looking at the floor, he turned to her and began talking about the size of his penis and asked her if she had thought about his earlier proposition.

The victim said she told Replogle that he was old enough to be her father, to which he allegedly replied that he could “be her daddy because your daddy isn’t here,” knowing that her father had passed away. The victim said she told Replogle to leave, at which point Replogle told her he would probably put an eviction notice on her door.

For the next several months, according to the victim, Replogle continued to tell her he was working on evicting her and would ask her if she was willing to take him up on his proposition. Afraid that she was going to be evicted, the victim said she contacted the trailer park’s owner and was told he knew nothing about her being evicted and that he would look into it. The victim said at that point she realized that Replogle was trying to scare her into having sex with him.

The victim said that a few days later, Replogle called her and asked her to come to the trailer park owner’s home to review her rental agreement with the person who does the billing, but when she arrived, she discovered that Replogle was the only one there. According to the victim, when she walked into the house, Replogle closed and locked the doors and told the victim that she could have a house like the trailer park owner’s if she went along with his proposition and told the victim that they could cuddle on the owner’s bed if she wanted to.

The victim said that Replogle showed her some pink pills and asked if she wanted any, which she refused. When she asked to see the book in which her back rent was supposed to be recorded, Replogle couldn’t produce it. The victim said when she attempted to leave the house, Replogle stood between her and the door, making her feel like she couldn’t leave without an altercation. The victim said she told Replogle that she was going to tell the trailer park owner what was going on and Replogle told her she would be evicted from her home if she did. The victim said Replogle pleaded with her not to say anything because it would ruin his reputation.

The victim said that several days later, she was walking in the trailer park when Replogle approached her and attempted to give her $300 in cash, telling her he wanted her to have it to help her through the hard time she was going through. When the victim rejected the money, she said Replogle threw it on the ground and told her to “keep her mouth shut.” She said Replogle told her that if she ever said anything he would go the police and report that the victim was trying to blackmail him and told her that his name was better than hers in this town and that nobody would ever believe her.

The victim said that she attempted to catch up on her rent and made three payments of $600 each, two in cash and one by check. The victim said that none of the rent payments was recorded and that the check was cashed but not credited to her rent debt.

In addition to the charges filed by North Woodbury police, Replogle has also been charged by Martinsburg police after another female victim alleged that Replogle sexually assaulted her.

According to the charges, the second victim told police that on Oct. 28, 2021, Replogle, as executor of the now-deceased trailer park owner’s estate, stopped by the second victim’s trailer to discuss repairs and the return of her security deposit.

According to the second victim, when Replogle entered her trailer, he locked the door and talked about the size of his penis. The second victim told police that Replogle then grabbed her arm and pushed her onto the couch before sitting down beside her. The second victim said Replogle told her he forgot the check for her security deposit and said, “Let’s take it out in trade.”

The second victim said when she told Replogle no, he again asked about seeing his penis and grabbed her breast before forcing his hand inside her pants, into her crotch.

The second victim said Replogle began laughing and saying he was going to get her aroused. She said Replogle then grabbed her wrist and forced her hand over his exposed genitals.

The second victim said she began to yell loudly and hurt her back trying to free herself from Replogle. The second victim told Replogle to leave and said he stood up and fixed his pants as he walked to the door.

Replogle was arraigned by Tyrone Magisterial District Judge Fred Miller who set bail at $60,000, which Replogle paid. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 3.