CLEARFIELD – A 20-year-old Glen Richey man, Harley S. Rothrock, has been accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl while she was intoxicated.
Rothrock has been charged by Sgt. Nathan J. Curry of the Clearfield Borough police with six counts each of statutory sexual assault/4-8 years older, F2; indecent assault person less than 16 years of age, M2; and corruption of minors/defendant age 18 or above, F3.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Oct. 26, the victim’s mother told police that the victim stayed at an East Locust Street residence the week before and was observed having sex with Rothrock. A witness advised her of the incident, and she wanted to pursue criminal charges.
Officer Mitchell Klender subsequently interviewed and obtained a written statement from the witness who allowed the victim to stay at her residence on Oct. 18. She said the victim went to school the next morning but didn’t return until later that night.
During the early-morning hours Oct. 20, the witness observed what appeared to be the victim pulling her pants up under a blanket. The victim had been lying in the bed with Rothrock, and the witness’ youngest son was also asleep in the same bed.
She confronted the victim and Rothrock and they apologized for having sex there. Rothrock admitted that it was “’very disrespectful” of them.
Curry was asked to interview Rothrock about the allegations against him. He was advised that Rothrock may be in the downtown area or at a Curwensville residence.
He went to Curwensville to locate Rothrock. When he knocked at the residence, he noticed a hidden camera near the front door facing the parking lot area.
A neighbor informed him that two males left and went toward the woods when he drove by. Curry searched the area but was unable to locate anyone.
Curry was aware that Rothrock was on probation. He subsequently had the county’s Probation Office advised of the complaint and that Rothrock was wanted for an interview.
On Nov. 3, Curry learned that the probation office had Rothrock incarcerated at the county jail. During an interview, Rothrock said he met the victim at Sheetz and they were friends.
However, he said the victim wanted to be in a relationship and told him she was 16 years old. He admitted he found out from her friends that she was only 14.
Rothrock denied having any form of sexual relations with the victim. He continually repeated that she was too young and he didn’t want to get into any trouble.
Curry confronted Rothrock specifically about what happened at the East Locust Street residence. Rothrock denied that allegation and claimed his apology was to “keep the peace,” because he needed a place to stay since he was homeless at the time.
When Rothrock was asked to submit to a polygraph examination, he started to bite his nails and fidget with his jail uniform. He responded with “I guess …. I mean…”
He then sat straight up and said, “OK, I admit it.” He also admitted to having sex with the victim earlier that night while he was intoxicated at a party. He tried to downplay the crime with the excuse that he’d been drinking, according to the affidavit.
During interviews with investigators Nov. 4 and Nov. 7, the victim said she was on her way to a large party in Curwensville. The vehicle was full of people, and she had to sit on Rothrock’s lap.
She said they were smoking marijuana while hunkering down behind the seats. She also said that Rothrock touched her buttocks and they kissed in the car.
At the party, she said there was a large amount of alcohol, and she was intoxicated to the point that she could neither see nor walk. She said Rothrock carried her to a car and kissed her again.
She and Rothrock exited the car and walked to a field, where they allegedly had sex. She told investigators she brought up their ages to Rothrock to which he replied that “age was just a number to him.”
When they left the party, she sat on Rothrock’s lap in the car again, and he continued to make advances.
When they arrived at a relative’s house, she was still intoxicated. Rothrock allegedly had sex with her two times while they were there.
The victim said she later stayed with Rothrock at a residence on East Locust Street in Clearfield. She said Rothrock had sex with her two more times while she was high on marijuana and then they were caught the last time.
