Local magician charged in sex assaults on girl

A professional magician was charged yesterday with multiple counts of sexual assault on allegations he molested a Collingswood girl numerous times over 10 years, authorities said.

Jeffrey Leach, 45, who has performed under the name Ron Geoffries for schoolchildren and corporate parties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, had been arrested Sept. 18 in Ocean County.

A 14-year-old girl from Toms River, N.J., accused Leach of inappropriately touching her during the summer of 2006, said Capt. Mike Mohel, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office.

After news accounts of the arrest, the Collingswood accuser told a relative that Leach had sexually assaulted her between 1995 and 2005, beginning when she was 10, said Capt. Joe Forte, spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

In a 2002 interview with The Inquirer, Leach described himself as "an ordinary guy who does extraordinary things" and recounted the misfortunes he had endured while pursuing his career.

In 1995, he said, lightning struck him during an outdoor performance. Also, he needed surgery after a unicycle accident, temporarily blinded himself with clown makeup, and suffered a hernia from a trick.

Leach, of Collingswood, was recently admitted to a hospital with an undisclosed illness, and is expected to be processed in the Collingswood case after he is discharged, Forte said.

State Superior Court Judge Samuel D. Natal set bail on the Camden County charges at $40,000. Additional charges are pending. Leach posted $50,000 bail on the Ocean County charges last week.

According to Leach's Web site, "Ron Geoffries the Magic Librarian," he has performed for children at schools in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

He has also appeared at numerous corporate events as "the Magic Comedian."

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Edward Correll of the Collingswood police at 856-854-1313, Ext. 237.