Kenneth Yerger

LOCK HAVEN — Kenneth Yerger, 27, of State College, was bound over for trial following a lengthy preliminary hearing this week before Magisterial District Judge Frank Mills on more than 50 counts of sex-related offenses committed against four females between the ages of 9 and 15 years of age.

The three-hour hearing, held Monday, saw District Attorney Dave Strouse present each of the juvenile victims who testified to a total of 17 separate acts perpetrated by Yerger between 2017 and 2022, according to a release from the district attorney’s office via Crimewatch.

After the testimony concluded, Strouse moved to amend the criminal complaint and added an additional 24 counts against Yerger, based on testimony that was heard from the victims which dramatically increased the number of the alleged incidents, the release said.

Judge Mills permitted the amendments and found that the Commonwealth had provided ample evidence to support the charges, and bound the charges over.

Yerger now moves closer to jury trial in the case.

In total, Yerger is charged with two counts of Rape of a Child (felony 1); two counts of Statutory Sexual Assault (felony 2); two counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault (felony 2); 15 counts of Indecent Assault (felony 3); 17 counts of Unlawful Contact With a Minor (felony 1); two counts of Sexual Assault (felony 2); 17 counts of Corruption of Minors (felony 3); and two counts of Indecent Assault (felony 3).

After prevailing on the preliminary hearing, Strouse also moved for the immediate modification of bail in light of the overwhelming nature of the evidence facing Yerger, the decades of prison time he faces, and the “increased probability that Mr. Yerger presents a flight risk now that he knows how much evidence there truly is against him,” the DA argued.

Judge Mills agreed with the Commonwealth and modified bail to $750,000 monetary.

According to the release, the decision followed a verbal outburst by Yerger in the courtroom claiming the prosecutor was “taking away his life.”

Deputy Sheriffs quickly took Yerger into custody, and transported him to the Clinton County Correctional Facility, the release said.