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LOCK HAVEN -- Emanuel J. King, 25, of Lamar Township, was bound over last week for trial on 25 counts of alleged sex crimes committed against minor females under the ages of 13.
According to Crimewatch, King was originally charged with 16 felony counts of alleged sexual offenses, including four counts each of aggravated indecent assault, a second degree felony, indecent assault, a third degree felony, corruption of minors, a third degree felony, unlawful contact with a minor, a second degree felony.
At the commencement of the preliminary hearing on Monday, Oct. 2, District Attorney Dave Strouse added nine additional counts including three counts each of indecent assault, a third degree felony; corruption of minors, a third degree felony; and unlawful contact with a minor, a second degree felony, according to the release.
Strouse initially attempted to avoid the testimony of the female victims by introducing video-recorded statements made to a forensic interviewer, but Defense counsel Don Martino objected to the video evidence, insisting that the victims must testify in person.
Magisterial District Judge Frank Mills sustained defense counsel's objection which resulted in approximately two hours of testimony of three of King's alleged victims, who testified concerning no less than seven separate incidents where King allegedly sexually abused the young girls when they were between the ages of three to nine years old, the release said.
Following the testimony of the victims, arresting officer Brian Burger of the Mill Hall Borough Police Department took the stand and testified that the defendant had actually confessed to at least four of the sexual assaults during a June interview that was audio and video recorded, the release said.
When Strouse rested the prosecution's case, Mills took only a few seconds before ruling that the Commonwealth had met its burden in proving the case and bound all 25 counts over for trial, the release said.
Following the hearing, Strouse asked the court to modify bail in the matter, arguing that the current $45,000 monetary bail was a slap in the face to the victims.
Strouse argued, "if it were not for the fact that the defendant is a member of the Amish community, bail would be at least a half-million dollars for crimes as egregious and serious as these."
Mills ruled that bail would remain as previously set, primarily due to the fact that King had appeared at all scheduled court proceedings, the release said.