‘Stole My Youth’: Man Sentenced For Sexual Assault Of Girls

Shawn Burke. Credit: Bucks County District Attorney’s Office

A Levittown man was sentenced Monday to state prison after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of two girls.

Shawn Burke, 37, of Bristol Township’s Levittown section, was sentenced Monday by Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr to 10 to 25 years behind bars. Burke will be subject to lifetime supervision under Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law.

Burke pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including involuntary deviate sexual assault of a person under 16 years of age, corruption of minors, indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age, and Photographing, filming or depicting a child on a computer engaging in a sexual act.

The sentencing followed an investigation by the Bristol Township Police Department that led to Burke’s arrest last year.

The investigation began in September 2024 when Bristol Township police Detective John Jennings was assigned to a child abuse investigation involving two juveniles.

Court records indicated the abuse occurred at the victims’ residence in Bristol Township and other locations.

One girl, who was 13 and 14 years old at the time, reported the defendant, who she had a family connection too, subjected her to ongoing sexual abuse and supplied her with marijuana, cocaine, and mushrooms on multiple occasions.

The girl also reported Burke selected and arranged for her to receive multiple tattoos, including ones reading “daddy’s girl” and “made by Satan,” authorities said.

A second victim reported Burke’s inappropriate comments and behavior, including providing her with lingerie and commenting inappropriately on her appearance. This victim also reported Burke provided her with marijuana on multiple occasions, authorities said.

Police executed a search warrant at Burke’s home and found lingerie and swimwear in extra small sizes.

During the sentencing hearing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy presented victim impact statements detailing the trauma caused by Burke’s actions.

One victim, identifying herself as a “survivor of physical, sexual, and mental abuse,” stated that Burke “stole my youth and my innocence from me” and exposed her to hard drugs at a young age, manipulating her into silence, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

The second victim stated her “whole perspective on life has changed” since the abuse, leaving her with depression, PTSD, and crippling fear, the office said in a statement.

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