CLEARFIELD – A Morrisdale man romantically entangled with a 17-year old girl waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge James Hawkins.
James Howard Frantz, 35, is charged with a felony count of concealment of a child and two counts of corruption of minors. Shortly before he was scheduled to appear before the Hawkins, additional charges involving the same girl but in another instance were added. These charges were corruption of minors, two counts of disorderly conduct, and harassment.
The affidavit of probable cause states that the girl left with Frantz either Sept. 7 or 8 to State College where they got a hotel room together. Police contacted Frantz, telling him to return her. Frantz said he did not have her and had not seen her since Sept. 7.
Police spoke with a number of witnesses, including Frantz’s coworkers, who noted that Frantz sometimes discussed the girl.
Eventually, police talked to the girl, who admitted to having sex with Frantz.
When police questioned Frantz, he told them essentially that the girl’s father is cruel to her. Frantz said he was giving the girl a ride to State College because the girl said she had to leave home because her father would be angry with her for getting detention at school.
Frantz said that he used his identification to get the hotel room. When he heard at work that the police were looking for him, he went back to the room to get her because he did not think it would be good for them to find her in a room under his name. Frantz said that they did not stay in the room together, but stayed in the truck that night.
“I was paranoid and scared,” said Frantz.
During questioning, Frantz said he did not touch the girl, only hugged her.
“I don’t even like sex, I’d rather be working,” Frantz told police. “My wife is good looking too, but I’d rather work 100 hours a week than have sex. I just love to work.”
Bail for both cases is set at $2,500 unsecured.