CLEARFIELD – A local bakery owner found guilty of indecent assault after an October trial was sentenced Tuesday.
Uzi Kornhauser, 57, 3100 Oklahoma-Salem Rd., DuBois, was charged with three counts of indecent assault after an incident at his bakery in February when he touched a customer inappropriately and kissed her.
In October, Kornhauser was found guilty of one count of indecent assault after a trial by jury and Judge Paul Cherry found him guilty of a summary harassment charge.
He was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days to one year in jail and one year consecutive probation by Cherry.
District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. noted that Kornhauser had undergone an assessment to determine whether or not he was a sexually violent predator. The investigator determined Kornhauser did not meet the criteria of a predator.
However, Kornhauser will still have to register his address with law enforcement officials for 15 years. He was ordered to complete the Project Point of Light program and pay restitution of more than $1,200. He was fined $400 plus costs.
Prior to sentencing, Gary Knaresboro, attorney for Kornhauser, asked the judge to consider a probation only sentence because Kornhauser is the sole operator of his own business.
Cherry noted that recently the business was shut down for two weeks while Kornhauser was out of town.
Kornhauser responded that he was visiting his 84-year-old mother and business was slow at that time of year.
Several people spoke in favor of Kornhauser, stating that he is a hard worker. Cherry noted he had also received several letters on Kornhauser’s behalf.
“There is no doubt in the court’s mind that he is a hard worker and has a good reputation,” Cherry said. “But I can’t disregard that the jury convicted him of indecent assault. I have to weigh the crime with consideration of the victim.”
According to testimony at the trial, the victim was sitting at a table in Uzi’s Pastries when he kissed her twice and hugged her while he touched her breast. Before she was able to leave, she said he grabbed her shoulders from behind and then “bear-hugged” her. She said she could also feel him touching her all over her body. He turned her face and kissed her again, twice on the lips.
According to her, she kept walking until she was out of Kornhauser’s embrace. She put her jacket on and collected her purse from her table, so that she could leave the bakery. When she got near the door, she said Kornhauser reached around her. She said he grabbed her buttocks and commented to her “nice butt.”
For a complete recap of the trial, click here.