CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man has been accused of having inappropriate contact with two girls this past summer, according to court paperwork filed today at Magisterial District Judge Richard Ireland’s office.
Jeffrey Allen Zellner, 35, of Clearfield has been charged by Clearfield Borough police with four counts each of criminal attempt/indecent assault person less than 13 years of age, F3; criminal attempt/indecent assault person unconscious, M1; criminal attempt/indecent assault without consent of other, M2; endangering welfare of children, F3; corruption of minors, M1; disorderly conduct, M3; and harassment, S.
Zellner was arraigned at 10:14 a.m. Monday before Ireland. His bail has been set at $50,000 monetary, and he is incarcerated at the Clearfield County Jail. Zellner has been scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing during Centralized Court at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 4 at the jail.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at approximately 4:31 a.m. Sept. 26, police were requested by dispatch to contact a woman about an alleged incident that occurred involving her daughter, the first victim, earlier that date. She told police the victim had been staying at Zellner’s residence but called her crying and asking to be picked up.
The woman said her husband had gone to pick up the victim. He was gone longer than usual and had asked to speak with her upon his return. She said her husband told her when he picked up the victim she was crying and alleged “Jeff” had pulled her pants down while she was sleeping.
The woman said when her husband had gone inside to speak with the defendant, Zellner allegedly kept saying, “I know it looks bad. I’m sorry.” The woman said the victim had also told her the same thing had allegedly happened another time in the past.
In an interview, the first victim told police that she was sleeping on the couch when she allegedly felt her pants being pulled down below her buttocks. She also allegedly observed Zellner drop down onto the floor in front of the couch and then walk into the kitchen.
The first victim told police that she was afraid to go back to sleep. She said Zellner had allegedly done this before; however, she was unable to give an exact date and thought it was this past summer.
She said she didn’t tell her parents about it because she was afraid. The first victim said that both times Zellner allegedly pulled her pants down, and didn’t touch her anywhere that she knew of.
In a statement to police, the victim’s step-father said when he arrived at Zellner’s residence, he was told there was a problem. When he went inside the residence, he allegedly observed beer bottles and a sandwich on the table beside the couch. Zellner, he said, allegedly kept repeating, “I don’t know what to say.”
Later the victim’s mother called police and reported that she’d found out about a previous incident. More specifically she was told that Zellner had allegedly pulled down her older daughter’s pants earlier in the summer.
During a Child Advocacy Center interview on Sept. 30, the first victim explained that an alleged incident occurred this past summer. She said she was sleeping on the couch in the living room, and Zellner was sitting on the chair next to it.
At some point, she allegedly felt her pants being pulled down, causing her to wake up. On Sept. 26, the victim said she was sleeping at Zellner’s residence again when she woke up to the feeling of her pants being pulled down.
After the second incident, she told police that Zellner jumped on the floor like he wasn’t there. She said he then looked to see if anyone was looking at him. She told police that Zellner left the room and sat in a chair near the couch when he came back. She said he allegedly put his arm over to see if she was still awake.
The first victim told police she was afraid and went upstairs, where she asked a female to call her mother. She asked to be picked up from Zellner’s residence by her step-father.
During her CAC interview, the second victim told police about two, separate alleged incidents during which Zellner pulled her shorts down, while she was sleeping at his residence. She told police both incidents were close together this past summer; however, she wasn’t sure of exact dates.
When asked about the first incident, she said she was sleeping on the couch in the living room. She allegedly woke up to the feeling of her shorts being pulled down. When she woke up, she allegedly observed Zellner on his knees next to the couch, and he was changing channels on the television.
The second victim told police she covered up with a blanket, which she tucked around her in such a way that Zellner wouldn’t be able to take it off. She said Zellner allegedly went back to his chair, where there was beer all over, and sat down. The second victim said she didn’t say anything to Zellner, as she “didn’t’ want him to do anything else.”
During the second incident, she was laying on the couch in the living room with a large blanket over her. She said Zellner allegedly got really drunk and had like 10 beers on the table that night. She said it was around 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. when Zellner allegedly pulled the blanket off of her and started to pull down her shorts.
She told police she allegedly observed Zellner, who “shrunk” down beside the couch and began to crawl toward the television. She said Zellner always played loud music on the television, and she believed he did this, so that no one would hear what he was doing.
During the second incident, she said when she rolled over, she left her arm hang off the couch. She said she could allegedly feel Zellner touching her hand to see if she was awake. She said she moved her hand away, and Zellner went into the kitchen.
The second victim said she wasn’t able to sleep but pretended to. She said Zellner allegedly checked twice that night to see if she was asleep. She said she would move away each time Zellner allegedly checked on her. The second victim said she later called her mother to pick her up because she had become homesick.
According to the second victim, she stopped going to Zellner’s residence to stay after the second alleged incident. She said she would only go over to play sometimes, so long as Zellner was not at home. The second victim said she didn’t tell her mother why she didn’t want to stay there because she was afraid.
She told police that numerous before the alleged incidents, Zellner made her feel weird while she was at his residence. She said she had allegedly noticed Zellner staring at her, and when he did, he would raise his eyebrow and smirk at her.
In an interview, a female told police the first victim came up to her room, and she was crying around 4 a.m. or 4:30 a.m. Sept. 26. She said the victim told her what Zellner had allegedly done, and wanted to call her mother. She said she waited with the victim until she was picked up.
When the first victim got into her step-father’s vehicle, the female allegedly told him what had allegedly happened to her. She said when they went inside, Zellner allegedly commented that “I know this looks bad, but I didn’t do anything.”
When police made contact with the female, she said Zellner would come to the station to speak with them Oct. 1. However, Zellner allegedly failed to show up, and police attempted to contact him numerous times. When police made contact with the female again, she advised Zellner didn’t want to speak with them and planned to get an attorney.
