CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man accused of sexually assaulting a 3-year-old was in court recently and asked for his case to be sent back to the preliminary hearing stage.
Gregory A. Laird, 50, 30 Servomation Dr., Clearfield, is charged with two counts each of aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of person less than 13 years of age and corruption of minors. He remains in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.
His attorney, Douglas Campbell, told Judge Paul E. Cherry that Laird did not have representation at his preliminary hearing in July. He waived his right to a hearing at that time and then applied for a public defender.
He stated that Laird didn’t understand what was happening and he requires more explanation than the average person. If he had understood at that time, Campbell said he would have had a hearing. His sister also addressed the court confirming that he was in special education in school and does have trouble understanding sometimes.
First Assistant District Attorney Beau Grove argued that he spoke to Laird, District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. spoke with him and the district judge also talked to him before he signed a paper confirming he understood.
Cherry granted the motion to remand the case for a preliminary hearing, which he said will be held before him.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an investigation began May 7 after the victim’s mother reported to police that she thought her daughter had been sexually assaulted. The mother became concerned after she noticed redness to the victim’s private area. When asked if anyone had touched her there, the girl said “Greg did.” Laird had watched the girl for her mother on May 3 and this is possibly when she was assaulted. The girl was taken to the Clearfield Hospital for an examination.
Later that day, Laird arrived at the police station. He stated he knew he was being accused of touching the victim and denied it, stating “I would not do that to a little kid.”
On May 22 the victim was interviewed by an employee of Western PA Cares for Kids in Brookville. During the interview, the victim indicated Laird had touched her “butt” on two occasions but pointed to her genital area.
Laird was interviewed by police on May 23. Again he denied touching the girl. But on June 19 when he was interviewed again, he admitted to a state trooper that he touched the victim’s genitals while she was sitting on his lap.
