June 5, 2017- Commonwealth v Marvin Brummell:  On Monday, June 5, 2017, Marvin Brummell pleaded guilty to Indecent Assault of a Child and Corruption of Minors.  Brummell’s plea came moments before jury selection was to begin in the case.  Brummell was sentenced to a ten year probationary sentence and is subject to special conditions for sex offender.  As a result of his conviction, Brummell is required to register under Pennsylvania's Megan's Law for life. 

In 2012, the victim, then ten years old, reported to a children and youth caseworker that Brummell had been indecently assaulting her.  The Dauphin County Children and Youth Caseworker, Ashley Johnson, was in the victim’s home for an unrelated issue when the victim made this revelation.  Johnson, along with Swatara Police Detective Chris Seiler, immediately began an investigation into the victim’s allegations.  Det. Seiler remarked, “Despite many obstacles placed in her path along the way, the victim in this case resolutely maintained that she was abused and Brummell was her abuser.  She was unwaivering and in the end Marvin admitted her truth."      

This was the second time the victim and her family had gathered in a Dauphin County courtroom for a trial in this case.  A previous trial in this case, in March of this year, ended in a mistrial.  After Brummell’s guilty plea, Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean M. McCormack stated, "The victim in this case was extremely relieved that Mr. Brummell finally, after five years of denials, admitted to the truth."  Brummell's guilty plea came after a plea agreement was worked out to spare the victim from having to testify. 

McCormack explained the reasoning behind why a plea agreement was reached in this case.  "Jury trials in child sexual abuse cases take an incredible toll on victims.  The stress of testifying in front of one's abuser is a heavy burden to put on a child.  Whenever we can work out a plea agreement that spares a victim from the burden of testifying, but still holds an abuser accountable, it is worthwhile to explore that option."  But McCormack cautions, "It is of paramount importance that the victim and his or her family have a say in how a case is resolved."  In this case, the victim and her family were consulted and agreed that the plea agreement was in the victim’s best interests.  “The most important factor to her was that Brummell admit to sexually molesting her.  On Monday he finally did that.”