CLEARFIELD – An Altoona man accused of molesting a young girl pleaded guilty Tuesday in Clearfield County Court.
William Paul Carnell, 32, 102 Howard Ave., Altoona, an inmate of the jail, pleaded guilty to 10 counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with child, corruption of minors, and a related sex charge as well as one count of aggravated indecent assault. Judge Paul E. Cherry sentenced him to a total of 15 to 30 years in state prison.
Carnell was ordered to complete the Project Point of Light Program and to have no contact with the victims.
Carnell had an assessment and was found not to be a sexually violent predator. He will still have to register his address under Megan’s Law for the rest of his life.
The charges are the result of events that occurred between July of 2014 and February of 2015 in Coalport Borough. These incidents sometimes involved a young boy.
The original plea agreement for a lesser sentence was rejected by the court, but Carnell agreed to proceed with sentencing and accept the new minimum sentence of 15 years.
Prior to sentencing, Cherry called the acts “disgusting” and asked how Carnell could do this to two young children.
“I hope you get the help you need,” Cherry said, adding that Carnell needed “a lot of help.”
When Cherry asked him if he had anything to say, Carnell said no. Cherry quickly suggested Carnell apologize to the children. Carnell then apologized.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Carnell made a five-year-old girl perform a sex act on him several times in multiple locations and he fondled her. He also involved a seven-year-old boy in his molestation of the girl.
Trooper David Patrick of the Pennsylvania State Police testified during a preliminary hearing that he interviewed Carnell about the accusations during which Carnell admitted to the acts.