*This news article contains graphic details and may be upsetting to some GANT News readers.
CLEARFIELD – Three Munson men have been accused of having sexual intercourse with farm animals on a daily basis over the past four or five years.
Terry J. Wallace, 41, Matthew J. Brubaker, 32, and Marc T. Measnikoff, 34, were arrested by Clearfield-based state police on Saturday.
All three men waived their rights to preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge James Glass on Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
Brubaker’s bail remains set at $100,000 monetary; both Measnikoff and Wallace had theirs reduced to $75,000 monetary. All three remain housed at the jail.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Dobo had opposed any reduction in bail due to the severity of the charges and the “embarrassment factor,” which, he said, also raised safety concerns.
During Wallace’s argument specifically, he said Wallace could possibly try to “escape” the embarrassment. He said there was not only the risk that he might harm himself, but also that others might try to harm him.
Wallace’s attorney, Chris Pentz of the Public Defender’s office, agreed safety was a legitimate issue and the charges were a “heavy stain” on Wallace’s character. However, he said the jail was the least safe place for him to be right now.
He said by this point, the inmates know Wallace and the nature of his charges. He argued that this would make it difficult for Wallace to avoid conflict and protect himself.
Pentz also said Wallace lacks the financial means to flee from the area and has also been a life-long resident of either Blair or Clearfield County.
Pentz concluded his argument by asking for unsecured but supervised bail. Dobo opposed, calling Wallace “a danger to society” and adding he could engage in such behavior again.
The trio’s arrests stemmed from an ongoing investigation into reports of abuse and the execution of a search warrant, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The search warrant was for the seizure of electronic devices that were used to photograph, film and store evidence of the sexual abuse of the animals at a “makeshift farm” in Munson.
During a Child Advocate interview, a minor related to authorities that he’d been living at the farm property for the last four or five years.
He said he was regularly exposed to Wallace, Brubaker and Measnikoff, who were having sexual intercourse with horses, dogs, a cow and a goat on a daily basis.
According to the minor, living conditions were “deplorable.” He had to collect rain water to shower, there was a very limited food supply and there was neither electricity nor bathrooms.
On Saturday state police executed a search warrant, at which time Wallace, Brubaker and Measnikoff were taken into custody.
In interviews with state police, both Brubaker and Measnikoff allegedly admitted to committing the crimes over the past several years.
Brubaker also incriminated the other two men. Measnikoff, however, declined to respond to questions regarding Brubaker and Wallace.
Wallace, Brubaker and Measnikoff have been charged with one felony count each of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.
The men have also been charged with 1,460 misdemeanor counts of sexual intercourse with an animal and 1,460 summary counts of cruelty to animals.
State police and the Clearfield County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were finding placement for the animals, according to a previous press release issued by District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr.
Shaw also said the minor had been taken into protective custody. He said while there aren’t any allegations that the minor was abused, the investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of any mental or physical abuse he may have been exposed to.
