LOCK HAVEN -  Kenneth Yerger, 27, of Longmeadow Lane, State College, was bound over for trial following a lengthy preliminary hearing Monday 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 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.

After the testimony concluded, DA 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.  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 2 counts of Rape of a Child (F1); 2 counts of Statutory Sexual Assault (F2); 2 counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault (F2); 15 counts of Indecent Assault (F3); 17 Counts of Unlawful Contact With a Minor (F1);  2 Counts of Sexual Assault (F2); 17 Counts of Corruption of Minors (F3); and 2 counts of Indecent Assault (F3).

After prevailing on the preliminary hearing, DA 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, to which Yerger had a verbal outburst 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.