MADISON TOWNSHIP — A quiet section of Ledge Road, an apparent idyllic rural area, may have been the site of terrible abuses heaped upon family members, according to  the Madison Township Police Department.

Jeffrey A. York, 47, was secretly in-dicted Aug. 31 on two counts of rape involving a female under the age of 13, five counts  of gross sexual imposition, six counts of child endangerment, one count of agg-ravated men-acing and five counts of domestic violence, said Madison Township Police Department Detective Dan Boerner during a press conference Saturday at the police station on Hubbard Road.

“On December 2, 2009, officers of the Madison Township Police Department were dispatched to the 5700 block of Ledge Road, Madison Township, for a reported sex offense involving one of the victims that (allegedly) occurred several years (prior),” Boerner said reading a written statement.

Boerner said the female caller also requested assistance in leaving the residence with her seven children ranging in age from three months to 19 years.

“Officers arrived at the residence and transported the caller and her children to the Madison Township Police Department. The caller and her children were subsequently taken to a women’s shelter without incident,” Boerner said.

Police declined to answer many questions relating to the case because it is still under investigation, but painted a picture of a person completely controlling a family.

“One of the child endangering counts is based on the allegation that the defendant locked a child in their room, on and off, for a period of one year with limited access to the rest of the family, food, water, restroom and clothing,” Boerner said. He said an 8 by 10 foot room was divided into sections that included two thirds of the room being used for storage, leaving approximately one third of the room for living space.

Boerner said the child was periodically able to leave to go to the restroom.

“By all accounts, the family appeared to have been cut off from the outside world with no real resources to speak of. The children of age to attend public school, were all home schooled, and did not have any friends to speak of,” Boerner said.

Boerner said the rape and gross sexual imposition charges involved the same female child (under the age of 13), but refused to identify the age of the victim. He also said there were two girls and five boys among the children.

Boerner said it was a very difficult case to investigate because there were so many allegations and so many different victims. “The case itself is very disturbing,” he said.

Boerner also said the alleged abuse took place over a long period of time. “You are looking at a period of at least 15 years or so,” he said. He said he could not comment on why the woman who made the December call chose to call when she did and not before.

“There are reasons for that,” Boerner said adding that he could not comment on them at this time.

“I have been in contact with the family and they appear to be doing well,” Boerner said. He said they are getting “anything they need.”

Boerner said the family did not want to comment and he asked they be left alone. He said the children are now attending school.

There are no indications that anyone else will be charged relating to this case, he said.

Boerner indicated a copy of the 911 tape would likely be available by September 10.

After the secret indictment Lake County Sheriff’s Department deputies made the arrest on Sept. 1.

“The defendant was arraigned on Sept. 3, 2010, and his bond was set at $250,000 cash or surety with the condition that he not have any contact with any of adult/minor victims and is subject to GPS monitoring (if bail was posted),” Boerner said.

Boerner said there was no record of any similar criminal activity in York’s past.