Trigger Warning: Child Sexual Abuse

Man Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing 3 Young Girls Between 2022 and 2023

NORFOLK, Va. — Stephen Clifton Bancroft Jr., 52, was found guilty on Wednesday of three counts of child sexual abuse felonies that he committed against three young girls at various times between 2022 and 2023.

Mr. Bancroft is acquainted with each of the girls — who were between the ages of 5 and 12 during the times of his offenses — because Mr. Bancroft knew a family member of the girls. Mr. Bancroft had contact with the girls on numerous occasions both in Norfolk and in Chesapeake.

In May 2023, one of the girls disclosed to her mother that she had seen Mr. Bancroft’s genitalia and that he had masturbated in front of her. The girl’s mother called the police, and the police did forensic interviews with the girl and her sister. The sister disclosed that she, too, had seen Mr. Bancroft’s genitalia on a different occasion and that he had molested her. During the police’s investigation, a third victim related to the first two victims disclosed that Mr. Bancroft had also molested her on a different occasion. Each of the girls disclosed that Mr. Bancroft had told them that they would get in trouble if they told anyone what he did.

On Wednesday, Mr. Bancroft entered an agreement to plead no contest, pursuant to the rule in North Carolina v. Alford, to two counts of aggravated sexual battery of victims under 13 years old, and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child as their custodian. In exchange for Mr. Bancroft’s pleas, the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office agreed to dismiss additional similar charges against Mr. Bancroft, and the Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office agreed not to bring charges regarding the same victims against Mr. Bancroft in their jurisdiction. There is no agreement to Mr. Bancroft’s sentence.

Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. accepted Mr. Bancroft’s plea agreement, found Mr. Bancroft guilty of the three charges, and set his sentencing hearing on Feb. 7, 2025.

“When people sexually abuse children, they cause great harm to the children, to their families, and to their future,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “We hope that Mr. Bancroft’s guilty plea, which encompasses his conduct not just in Norfolk but also in Chesapeake, will spare the victims the trauma of trial and allow for them to continue on their journey of healing.”

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Kolp and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Breanna F. Tate are prosecuting Mr. Bancroft’s case, and Norfolk Police Detective Jason E. Myers led the investigation.

If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to child abuse, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.

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