KENNETH YERGER

LOCK HAVEN — A Clinton County jury of six women and six men deliberated for approximately an hour and a half on Friday afternoon before delivering a verdict of guilty on all 56 counts charged against Kenneth Matthew Yerger, of Longmeadow Lane, State College.

Originally scheduled by the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas to be a four-day trial, District Attorney Dave Strouse presented the Commonwealth’s case entirely on Thursday, day one of the trial, and rested the Commonwealth’s case by mid-afternoon, according to a release from the DA’s office via Crimewatch.

On Friday, Yerger and his wife both took the witness stand in his defense, and closing arguments were heard before noon, the release said.

Judge Michael F. Salisbury presided over the trial, and the jury received instructions from Judge Salisbury and began deliberations in the mid-afternoon hours on Friday, the release said.

In total, Yerger was found guilty of two counts of Rape of a Child, a first degree felony; two counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault, a second degree felony; two counts of Statutory Sexual Assault, a second degree felony; 15 counts of Indecent Assault of a Child under the age of 13, a third degree felony; 16 counts of Unlawful Contact With a Minor, a first degree felony; two counts of Sexual Assault, a second degree felony; 16 counts of Corruption of Minors, a third degree felony and one count of Indecent Assault of a Child under the age of 16, a second degree misdemeanor.

According to the release, Yerger’s convictions carry a possible maximum sentence of up to 659 years in prison.

Following his conviction, Judge Salisbury revoked Yerger’s bail and committed him to the Clinton County Correctional Facility to await sentencing which was scheduled for Dec. 9, 2025, the release said.

Yerger was ordered to undergo a Sexual Offenders Assessment by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender’s Assessment Board to determine whether he should be classified as a Sexually Violent Predator pursuant to Megan’s Law, the release said.

Following the trial, Strouse said, “I am obviously pleased with the verdict, and I am very grateful for the service of our jury. But most of all, I am happy for the four victims in this case who had to endure so much, including the traumatic experience of having to sit in the courtroom and face their abuser. I hope they can use this verdict as a starting point to heal and find happiness in their lives.”

Strouse also complimented the efforts of the investigating officers in the case, both members of the Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper Chad Harpster and Trooper Dalton Young.