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Milroy man convicted of indecent assault

Alleged incident involving 9-year-old girl took place in summer 2016

LEWISTOWN — Following a jury trial, a 40-year-old man was found guilty on all charges related to the sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl on Monday.

Adam M. Stidfole, of Milroy, stood trial at Mifflin County Courthouse before Judge Aaron Gingrich on charges of aggravated indecent assault, three counts of unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and three counts of indecent assault of a minor under 13 after he allegedly performed sex acts on a young girl between June and September 2016.

Mifflin County District Attorney Chris Torquato presented testimony from the girl, now 11, as well as a Children and Youth Services caseworker and criminal investigator who worked on the case.

Stidfole chose to not testify during the trial and his attorney, Jeff Davis, presented no witnesses.

Testimony during Monday’s trial indicated that while the girl was living in a trailer with Stidfole and her family, on three occasions he performed inappropriate sex acts on her.

The girl testified that while staying with Stidfole, her mother’s boyfriend, she slept on a mattress in the living room and when her mother was at work, Stidfole was her caregiver. On occasion, the girl said she would take a nap in Stidfole and her mother’s bedroom, where the incidents occurred.

Hannah Wert, child protective services caseworker with Mifflin County Children and Youth Services, testified that she received two reports in one day regarding the girl. The first call, she said, was from someone stating that the girl was being left alone with Stidfole, who the caller believed was an “inappropriate caretaker.”

The second report indicated that the girl was using sexual language, Wert said.

When interviewed by Children and Youth Services, Stidfole indicated he had never been left alone with the girl, Wert testified.

In contrast, Pennsylvania State Trooper and criminal investigator, Shane Varner, testified that after receiving a report from Children and Youth Services, he interviewed Stidfole, who told him there were times when the mother would leave for work and leave the girl alone with him.

Varner testified Stidfole told him he at one point applied a cream to treat a rash she had, but that he did not otherwise touch her inappropriately.

In his closing statements, Davis argued that because some of the evidence did not line up and some of the girl’s testimony was vague that the girl could have some confusion on what happened, saying that she didn’t remember certain details.

Sentencing for Stidfole is scheduled for Nov. 17.

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