ABINGTON — A Philadelphia man must answer to charges in Montgomery County Court that he sexually assaulted a teenager at her home after he allegedly met her at Abington Senior High School.
Raeem Grange-Allen, 25, of the 4700 block of Hartel Avenue, was held for trial, after a preliminary hearing on Thursday before District Court Judge John D. Kessler, on charges of rape, attempted rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor, criminal use of a communication facility and permitting a child to film or depict a sex act on computer in connection with incidents that occurred in March 2026.
During the brief hearing, Grange-Allen stipulated that allegations contained in an affidavit of probable cause were sufficient evidence to move the case to county court.
Grange-Allen now faces a formal arraignment hearing on the charges in county court on Sept. 9. After that hearing, a county judge will schedule Grange-Allen’s trial date.
Grange-Allen remains in the county jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail while awaiting his next court hearing.
Raeem Grange-Allen (Booking photo courtesy Abington Township Police)
Assistant District Attorney Margot S. Weitz is handling the case. Defense lawyer Pantellis Palividas represented Grange-Allen during the hearing.
The investigation began on March 28 when the 14-year-old victim filed a report with Abington police after Grange-Allen allegedly sexually assaulted her at her township home the night before.
The girl told detectives she met Grange-Allen inside Abington Senior High School, located on Highland Avenue, and the two began communicating through text messages and social media accounts, according to a criminal complaint filed by Abington Detective Jeffrey Anderson.
“Grange-Allen identified himself to the victim as a student initially,” Anderson alleged, adding Grange-Allen later asked her multiple times to let him into the school building. “The victim estimated in total she saw him or let him into the school approximately three to four times.”
The victim reported she did tell Grange-Allen that she was 14.
“Grange-Allen sent the victim sexual messages over both text messages and over social media. The victim stated he would send her nude pictures of himself and ask her to send nude pictures back,” Anderson alleged.
Abington detectives alleged Grange-Allen engaged in a pattern of grooming behavior with the victim over a period of time.
On March 27, Grange-Allen allegedly showed up at the victim’s home where he held her down while she resisted and then had indecent contact with her, according to the arrest affidavit.
“The victim screamed, which caused Grange-Allen to release her and stop. Grange-Allen opened the victim’s dresser drawer and took several of her underwear,” Anderson alleged.
The victim’s mother eventually found Grange-Allen in her daughter’s bedroom, detectives said.
Grange-Allen was formally charged and arrested on June 18.
On June 30, the Abington Board of School Directors issued a public statement addressing the alleged security breach and student safety, saying the board “shares the community’s shock and anguish over the news” that a 25-year old man gained entry twice to the high school and was now charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student.
Board members said Superintendent Jeffrey Fecher announced the district has initiated a third-party investigation of the high school’s security measures and protocols, calling it “a critical first step.”
“However, because that investigation focuses on particular incidents, it may not necessarily reveal underlying attitudes and concerns about student safety among administrators, staff, and students,” the board’s statement read. “In recognition of our oversight responsibility, therefore, the Board will work with Dr. Fecher to augment the safety investigation with a third-party audit of ASHS culture around questions of student safety.”
Board members indicated they will be monitoring the progress of both the investigation and the audit over the course of the summer “and hope to have further information to share with the community at a Board meeting early in the school year.”