CLEARFIELD – A Mahaffey man pleaded guilty Monday during plea and sentencing court to having sex with a 12-year-old girl.
Bradley Thomas Barto, 23, was sentenced by Judge Paul Cherry to six months to one year in jail plus four years consecutive probation on felony counts of statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors, in addition to a misdemeanor count of indecent assault person.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, an investigation began after a report of suspected abuse from a victim who said she had sex with Barto when she was approximately 12 years old and he was 18 years old in October of 2015 in Mahaffey.
When he was questioned in August of 2019, he reportedly admitted he knew the victim and recalled having sex with her at a friend’s home.
He stated he knew it was “dumb” on his part because of the difference in their ages, but he could not remember how old they were when it happened.
Barto indicated she was “all over him” and he ended up making a “mistake,” according to the report.
At that time, Barto showed concern over charges being filed and becoming a Megan’s Law offender, police said.
Although he was evaluated and found not to be a sexually violent predator, Barto will still have to register with officials due to the nature of the charges.
He was also ordered to complete sex offender counseling.
