ELYSBURG – An Elysburg man is facing multiple charges for the sexual assault of a child. The Press Enterprise reports 55-year-old Lon Gilger is charged with repeatedly assaulting a young girl in his Elysburg home, beginning when the girl was eleven-years-old. The assaults allegedly occurred over a two-year period, beginning in 2010. Gilger was arraigned and is free on $80,000 cash bail. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Elysburg man accused of sexually assaulting a child
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Camp counselor charged with sexual assault
MILLVILLE – A camp counselor, who worked with kids at Camp Victory, has been charged with sexually assaulting a hearing-impaired girl. The Press Enterprise reports Karisa Zapotocky is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old camper in a shower house during Camp Hero, a week-long program at Camp Victory for deaf and hearing-impaired children. Zapotocky first denied the assault, but police report she changed her story and claimed it was consensual. The 20-year-old faces felony indecent assault charges for the incident two years ago. The victim was examined at a hospital after the assault. Zapotocky is free on bail and has a court hearing this week on charges including aggravated indecent assault, institutional sexual assault...
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Milton man sexually assaulted 9-year-old
MILTON – A Milton man faces five felony charges after police say he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl in her White Deer Township home between May and November of 2009. 40-year-old Robert Eugene Reynolds has been charged by state police with aggravated indecent assault, intimidation of a victim and unlawful contact with a minor. Police say Reynolds inappropriately touched the girl and threatened that he would hurt her family if she told anyone. It is not clear how the abuse was reported. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Book signing for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
LEWISBURG — April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and a local author is hoping to spread the word. Rosemary Neidig, of Lycoming County, was sexually abused as a toddler, and she has written a book to help others cope. “The title has a real significance for Sexual Assault Awareness, because ‘Every Two Minutes’ someone in the United States is sexually assaulted,” Neidig said. “My goal was to reach out to those who have been sexually assaulted and tell my story so they don’t feel alone. That is something that often happens when someone is sexually assaulted.” The book tells the story of Neidig growing up and forcing herself to forget that she was...
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Northumberland man pleads guilty to sexual assault
NORTHUMBERLAND – A Northumberland man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. 37-year-old Adam Vigo entered his guilty plea in court Monday to charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors. The plea prevented the young victim from having to testify against Vigo, who was originally charged with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault. He faces a sentence of two to four years in state prison when he is sentenced. Police say Vigo assaulted the child for four year starting in 2007. Vigo came to a plea agreement before jury selection began. Vigo was charged in 2001 with statutory rape in Snyder County and served time...
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SANE nurses and others speak out about sexual assault
LEWISBURG – A group of Evangelical Community Hospital nurses were honored Monday for their roles in working with victims of sexual assault. It was 20 years ago when the hospital started the SANE program, which stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners. Darlene Rowe is director of the emergency department at Evangelical and helped start SANE, “I started the program in 1994. The Union County District Attorney at the time called me and said that I botched another case. He was referring to a rape case that was thrown out of court because the evidence was not collected properly. Our process definitely needed to change.” Now, nurses who specialize in working with victims of sexual abuse...
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Man charged with sexual assault in Kulpmont
KULPMONT — State police have charged a man with sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Kulpmont. 30-year-old Jeremy Henninger has been charged with aggravated indecent assault. Troopers say Henninger sexually assaulted the girl on Tuesday at a family member’s home on Chestnut Street in Kulpmont. State police say other victims have come forward reporting similar incidents. The investigation continues. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Two sexual assault cases in Shamokin
SHAMOKIN – Police have arrested two men for two separate sexual assault cases in Shamokin. The News Item reports 20-year-old Kyle Hoffman had sex with a 15-year-old girl in a wooded area of Coal Township in April. Police say Hoffman asked two girls, ages 12 and 15, to play a game known as “Truth or Dare”. Hoffman is accused of hugging the older girl and forcing her to have sex, even though she tried to stop him. He was already at the Northumberland County Prison on a parole violation and was arraigned by video on the latest charge. A former Shamokin man has been charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while she was...
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Coal Township man sentenced for sexual assault
COAL TOWNSHIP — A Coal Township man has been sentenced to county prison for sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl last summer. The News Item reports 36-year-old Kevin Glazik was sentenced to 3 to 23-months in prison for unlawful contact with a minor and indecent assault. He will begin serving his sentence on August 4th. Glazik was charged with inappropriately touching the girl at his home last July. He admitted his guilt and apologized in court. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Ex-teacher’s aide pleads guilty to sexual assault
SUNBURY — A former teacher’s aide, accused of having sex with a student at Shamokin Area Middle-High School, has pleaded guilty to felony institutional sexual assault. 29-year-old Amanda Dreher is accused of having sex with and 18-year-old student on three occasions at the school between January and February. The News Item reports Dreher is expected to be sentenced to at least three months in county prison. She also must register as a Megan’s Law offender for 25 years. Dreher is free on bail. She resigned from her teacher’s aide position in April. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Teacher charged with sexually assaulting juvenile
DANVILLE — A teacher from Bloomsburg has been charged with sexually assaulting a juvenile. According to police, 45-year-old Melissa Anne Brindisi sexually assaulted a juvenile at North Central Secure Treatment Unit in Danville. State police say they were called to investigate a report of sexual assault between a teacher and a juvenile resident at the treatment facility between October 24 and November 21. Upon investigation, Brindisi was charged with Institutional Sexual Assault and Corruption of Minors. (Codi Jade) Follow
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Man cannot withdraw his plea
MIDDLEBURG – A Man charged with sexually assaulting a girl on two separate occasions will not be allowed to withdraw his no contest plea. Darion Levanowitz of Selinsgrove was 18 when he is accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl on two occasions in the fall of 2013. The Snyder County D-A Michael Piecuch says, Levanowitz entered a no contest plea in July of 2014, but then wanted to withdraw that plea. Snyder-Union President Judge Michael Hudock ruled there was no fair and just reason to allow the plea to be withdrawn. Hudock cited Levanowitz’s multiple admissions and the prejudice that could result from forcing the victim to testify after substantial trial delays. Levanowitz was...
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Watsontown man charged with indecent assault
SUNBURY — A Watsontown man has been charged with sexually assaulting another man inside the Northumberland County Prison. District Attorney Ann Targonski says criminal charges of indecent assault and harassment have been filed against 21-year-old Gerald Zimmerman by county detective Degg Stark. Targonski says an allegation was made by a former inmate that he had been sexually assaulted by Zimmerman while both men shared a cell at the former prison. Zimmerman will have a preliminary hearing before District Judge Ben Apfelbaum within the next few weeks. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Northumberland man pleads guilty to sexual assault
SUNBURY – A Northumberland man entered a guilty plea during jury selection for his trial on Tuesday. 21-year-old Wayde Kerstetter plead guilty to charges of aggravated indecent assault and false imprisonment. District Attorney Ann Targonski says Kerstetter had been drinking and when a woman went outside to smoke a cigarette, he grabbed her and pulled her into his apartment. Kerstetter is accused of pushing the woman down on a bed and sexually assaulting her. When she cried out for help, a witness came in and pulled Kerstetter off her. She then ran to an upstairs apartment to find her friend and went to Evangelical Community Hospital for medical help. Sentencing for Kerstetter will be...
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NorCo Jury: Milton sex offender guilty
MILTON – A jury convicted a Milton sex offender Thursday. 39-year-old Eric Aikey was convicted on all counts of statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and other crimes. According to Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski, Aikey was ordered to be held in jail until his sentencing at a later date. The convictions carry a potential sentence of up to 72 years in prison with fines of up to $122,500. Aikey will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Aikey allegedly sent text messages to a 15-year-old girl indicating he wished she were 18 so they could “hook up.” ...
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Bail modification denied for Mifflinburg woman
LEWISBURG — A request for bail modification has been denied for a Mifflinburg woman charged with having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. 35-year-old Charity Sampsell has been jailed since March, when police say she violated original bail conditions by contacting the victim. Police say Sampsell is facing 20 felony charges including unlawful sexual contact with a minor and statutory sexual assault. Sampsell allegedly had a sexual relationship with the girl last summer. Police obtained cell phone records that revealed text messages and pictures between Sampsell and the teen girl. Sampsell was originally released on $50,000 bail following her arrest in late February, but was then jailed after contacting the victim. Judge...
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Lewisburger draws 60-year term for child sex
LEWISBURG – A Lewisburg man was sentenced to up to 60 years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a child. The Daily Item reports 38-year-old Eric Aikey was found guilty in May on nine counts of sex-related crimes. Aikey must also register as a sex offender for life on Megan’s List. He was freed on $1 bail in June 2014 because he was not brought to trial within 180 days by the Northumberland County District Attorney’s office. He was charged on August 22, 2013 with sexually assaulting a child under the age of 15. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Selinsgrove man charged with sexual assault
SELINSGROVE – A Selinsgrove man has been charged with felony statutory sexual assault after state police say he had sex with a 13-year-old girl. 34-year-old Michael Sanders is accused of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with the girl, to whom he sent Facebook and text messages. State police interviewed the girl, who told troopers she had engaged in sex with Sanders. He was arraigned on Tuesday before District Judge John Reed and was sent to the Snyder County Prison. (Ali Stevens) Follow
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Sunbury sex offender pleads guilty
SUNBURY – A Sunbury man charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl has pleaded guilty to all charges against him. Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski says 24-year-old Jay Kessler entered a guilty plea Thursday, after a jury had been selected and trial was expected to begin today. Kessler plead guilty to statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, aggravated indecent assault and other counts. Police say Kessler added the victim as a friend on Facebook in May of 2014 and began private messaging her. He met the girl and engaged in sexual activity with her in June 2014. Sentencing is scheduled for November 30. An assessment will be performed to determine Kessler’s...
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