BROCKWAY BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – Additional information has emerged regarding the case against a Clearfield man who allegedly molested a young girl in Brockway over a span of nearly two years.
According to court documents, the Brockway Borough Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 46-year-old Corey Dean Harris, of Clearfield, on Wednesday, October 4, in Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office:
- Aggravated Indecent Assault – Complaint Less Than 13 Years Old, Felony 2 (94 counts)
- Indecent Assault Person Less than 13 Years of Age, Felony 3 (94 counts)
- Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses, Felony 2
- Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
- Endangering Welfare of Children – Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense, Felony 3
According to a criminal complaint filed in Judge Inzana’s office on October 4, 2023, the Brockway Police Department received a ChildLine report from the Department of Human Services around 11:52 a.m. on June 21, 2022, of suspected child abuse and neglect. The alleged perpetrator is listed on the ChildLine report as Corey Harris. The alleged victim is listed as a nine-year-old female.
The complaint states that on June 28, 2022, Officer Troy Bell, of the Brockway Borough Police Department, met with a team at the Child Advocacy Center in Brookville for the forensic interview of the known female victim.
According to the complaint, the interviewer, Cass Burkett, asked the nine-year-old victim to tell her why she was there, and she stated, “Due to a bad thing that Corey did to me.”
The interviewer then asked the victim to tell her all about it, and she stated that he touched her private parts without asking. The victim then identified where she was touched by a drawing of a body and pointed at the groin area which she referred to as her “privates,” according to the complaint.
When the victim was asked if she told anyone about this, originally, she stated “No,” and then stated that she told the lady from CYS, but she did not remember her name, the complaint notes.
After the interview on June 28, the victim’s mother was then brought into the room with the team so investigators could speak with her. The victim’s mother gave the Child Advocacy Center of Brookville team information regarding Corey Harris.
On August 8, 2022, Officer Bell met with the victim’s mother to get further details on Corey Harris, the complaint continues.
On August 24, 2022, Officer Bell met with Corey Harris at his residence on Bigler Avenue in Clearfield to interview him. The interview started with gathering general personal information from Corey Harris, who confirmed he’s resided at this address for one year in July 2022. Prior to this, he resided in Brockway until July 15, 2021. Corey previously lived at Locust Grove Apartments for two to four years.
During the interview, Harris initially stated he was never left alone with the victim, but then he reportedly changed his story stating sometimes he would be alone with the victim, the complaint states.
Officer Bell then brought up the actual allegations to Harris.
According to the complaint, Officer Bell asked Harris if at any point in time, “would there have been an opportunity for you to have intentionally, inadvertently, accidentally” inappropriately touched the victim, and Harris responded, “No. Absolutely not. ” Harris then stated, “No, No. I never touched (the victim). I would never touch (the victim). I’m not like that…”
Later in the interview, Officer Bell redirected Harris’ attention back to the allegation and asked again, “So, as it stands right now, there is no way that you touched (the victim)?” Again, Harris stated, “No.” Officer Bell asked again, “So there was never an opportunity to touch her…?” Harris again stated, “No.”
In closing the interview, Officer Bell gave Harris the opportunity to clear anything up that they spoke about and told Harris he would hate to continue the investigation and find out he was lying about something later. Harris interrupted and stated, “Well, I did lie,” as he chuckled. “I did lay down like once or twice, I did fall asleep laying like, in her bed, But, I didn’t want to say that because it’s like, oh you did,” the complaint indicates.
Harris stated he didn’t do it often, stating, “Once in a while, though, yes I would lay down in bed with her,” the complaint continues.
Officer Bell asked Harris about the possibility that he may have been sleeping and touched the victim by accident or inadvertently, and Harris stated, “I never touched her on purpose, as far as I know, I never touched her on accident,” according to the complaint.
During the interview, Harris agreed to take a polygraph about the events, the complaint notes.
On September 27, 2022, Officer Bell called and left a message for Matt Higgins from PSP to give him a call to possibly set up a polygraph for this incident. Higgins stated he would contact Harris on his own and schedule the interview.
On November 1, 2022, Higgins stated Corey Harris did not show up to his scheduled polygraph. Harris called the station after Higgins had already left and stated he was sick. Higgins stated he would try to reschedule him, the complaint indicates.
According to the complaint, on November 14, 2022, Higgins attempted to get Harris scheduled again. Higgins stated he spoke with him on November 13, 2022, and Harris stated he wanted to do it, but he kept making excuses. Higgins was never able to get Harris to meet for an interview or polygraph.
On August 2, 2023, at 9:07 p.m., Officer Bell was advised by District Attorney Jeff Burkett that he and Detective Jeff Lee met with the victim and her mother to conduct a follow-up interview regarding this incident. During the interview with the victim, Burkett advised that she confirmed the incidents she alleged to have occurred previously during her forensic interview. During the interview with the victim’s mother, she stated she was not aware of this report until CYS showed up or called her regarding the complaint. She stated she had not yet spoken with the victim about the allegations, and she was still at this time uncertain of the details of the allegations, the complaint indicates.
Detective Lee then met with the victim after speaking with the victim’s mother.
During this conversation, Detective Lee asked the victim if she knew why she was present to speak with police. The victim stated she did know why by stating, “Yes. Because of Corey..” The victim explained the inappropriate touching that occurred, according to the complaint.
The victim was once again interviewed by Detective Lee, and she confirmed the same details that she alleged happened during the forensic interview; however, this time she gave information as to how often these incidents happened, the complaint notes.
Based on this second interview of the victim and her mother, these incidents are alleged to have occurred starting in March or April 2019 and ending in February 2021, the complaint states.
Harris was arraigned at 6:04 p.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, in front of Judge Inzana.
Unable to post $50,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, at 10:00 a.m. with Judge Inzana presiding.
EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Extreme graphic details were not included due to the sexual nature of the crimes.
EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Several details were removed from this article to help protect the identity of the victim.