CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man accused of tying up a 4-year-old girl and sending photos of her to her grandmother pleaded guilty Tuesday in Clearfield County Court.
Jeremy Allen May, 30, 15 S. Highland St., DuBois, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of children. He was sentenced by Judge Paul E. Cherry to one year to two years less one day in jail and five years consecutive probation. He was fined $1,200 plus costs. Cherry warned him if he violated his parole or probation, he would be placed in state prison.
Prior to sentencing, Cherry referenced that May previously claimed the incident was a joke.
“Now it’s not a joke since you are facing (the possibility of) state prison,” he said.
May apologized and said he loved his kids and would never hurt them.
The child’s grandmother spoke in his defense, stating he made a really “stupid decision” and his children miss him. The victim feels it is her fault he is in jail.
May appeared upset as the sentence was read, especially when Cherry ordered that he not have any contact with the victim or her family.
During a preliminary hearing on the case, the child’s grandmother testified that she received a photo on her cell phone from May. In the photo, her granddaughter’s hands and feet were bound behind her and there was a towel over her face. The photo had a caption reading “this is what happens when they don’t listen.”
May sent a second photo with the girl still tied up but she was on a recliner. Again she had the towel over her face.
The grandmother testified that she told her husband right away and he went to the police. Children, Youth and Family Services were also contacted.
Cpl. Shawn McCleary, of the DuBois City Police, testified when he interviewed the victim, she told him she was “very scared” as this happened and she asked May to stop because she couldn’t breathe. She also told McCleary that this had happened three previous times. When the officer interviewed May, May claimed it was a joke and said she was tied up no longer than a minute, which was just long enough to take the photos.
