CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man is facing three additional felony charges with relation to the alleged sexual assault of a young girl.
Jerry A. Lefort Jr., 38, is now being charged by Clearfield Regional police with felony involuntary deviate sexual intercourse-person less than 16 years old, IDSI with a child, child endangerment, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of child and corruption of minors, plus one misdemeanor.
Lefort was arraigned on this new set of charges Thursday morning and the previous charges are being withdrawn, explained District Attorney Ryan Sayers.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, police were called to a Clearfield Borough residence June 19 for a reported sexual assault of a minor.
The investigation revealed the 4-year-old female victim was to be spending time at a friend’s house the night before, and was sexually assaulted by Lefort there.
The victim told police that Lefort placed her on a bed and locked the door before turning out the lights and thrusting himself on her.
She gave further incident details during a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County later on June 19.
She described how Lefort got on top of her and began “moving back and forth.” He also made her touch his privates, she said.
Afterwards, the victim said Lefort had her go into the bathroom and remove her pants so he could cut them into shorts.
At one point, she said Lefort also had her on his lap and wouldn’t let her up. He allegedly used a blue object to assault her, which hurt and made her “feel bad.”
When the interview was concluding, the victim said Lefort made her “pinky promise” not to tell anyone what he’d done to her.
The victim was examined at Clearfield Penn Highlands where medical staff reportedly observed several new bruises and “abnormal” redness on the victim.
A search warrant was obtained and executed at Lefort’s South Fourth Street apartment, with Lefort being located by officers hiding in a small closet.
He was removed from the closet and taken into custody.
In an interview with police, Lefort claimed he was watching television with the victim when she asked him to cut her pants into shorts because it was too hot.
Lefort is housed at Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is currently set for June 26 during centralized court.