HUNTINGDON COUNTY – A local man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a Christian festival last summer in Huntingdon County.
Zachary James Hertlein, 26, of Clearfield has pleaded guilty to corruption of minors/defendant age 18 or above, F3, and indecent assault without consent of other, M2.
Hertlein entered his guilty plea May 4 and is scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. July 20, stated online court documents.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on July 1, 2016, the victim reported she was sexually assaulted at the Creation Festival in Huntingdon County. It occurred in a wooded area near the festival grounds.
The same day, the victim was interviewed by a trooper at PSP’s Uniontown barracks. She said she’d gone to the festival with members of her church and Hertlein, who was a youth pastor.
On the first night, June 27, 2016, she went with Hertlein to a wooded area. He touched her inappropriately over top her clothes. On June 29, 2016, she met with him in a wooded area, and he inappropriately touched her again.
The trooper also interviewed the victim’s mother who said on July 1, 2016, she received several text messages from Hertlein. He was apologizing and seeking forgiveness.
At the time of the incident, Hertlein was 25 years of age and the victim was 15 years of age, according to the affidavit.
