NORRISTOWN — A Norristown man faces several years in prison when he’s sentenced later this year after he admitted to sexually assaulting two underage girls while they visited his residence and they were in his company.
Shakir Rahfique Tindley, 29, of the 400 block of Arch Street, faces a sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty on Monday in Montgomery County Court to charges of rape of a child, sexual assault and corruption of minors in connection with incidents that occurred with two girls, ages 12 and 14, between April and December 2020.
Tindley accepted a plea agreement in the case that will also require him to complete three years of probation, consecutive to parole. The sentence means Tindley will be under court supervision for 13 years.
But before Judge Steven T. O’Neill formally imposes the sentence, Tindley must undergo an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which will determine if Tindley meets state criteria to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions while serving parole and probationary periods.
“That’s going to be the sentence and it will be imposed on the day of sentencing,” O’Neill reminded Tindley about the terms of the plea agreement.
Tindley, who was supported in court by his mother, remains free on bail pending the completion of the sexual offender evaluation and the formal imposition of the sentence.
In addition to the prison term, Tindley will have to report his address to state police for the remainder of his life in order to comply with the state’s Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, previously known as Megan’s Law.
Tindley showed no emotion in court as he entered the guilty pleas.
Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Eileen Glenning sought the state prison term against Tindley.
“He took advantage of two girls for his own sexual benefit. This was complete selfish behavior and anyone who preys on children deserves to go to state prison,” Glenning said after the hearing.
The victims will be able to provide the judge with impact statements when Tindley’s sentence is formally imposed. Each of the girls testified about the incidents during Tindley’s previous preliminary hearing.
“It completely uprooted their lives. I think they are doing better now, seeing the relief on their faces at the preliminary hearing when they finally got to tell their stories,” Glenning said.
Tindley knew the girls’ families and the assaults occurred when each of the girls visited Tindley’s home on different occasions.
One 14-year-old girl reported she was sexually assaulted by Tindley in April 2020 and she told detectives she was “frozen” and afraid and didn’t know what to do during the assault, according to a criminal complaint.
In December 2020, a second girl, 12, came forward and told detectives she was raped by Tindley when she visited his residence.
“(The victim) stated she was afraid to tell anyone because she didn’t know what Tindley would have done,” Norristown Detective Angela Anderson alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Defense lawyer Frank Flick represented Tindley during the court proceedings.
Other charges of indecent assault and statutory sexual assault were dismissed against Tindley as part of the plea agreement.
