CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A Clarion man will stand trial in December for numerous charges relating to the alleged sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl.

Clinton James Shanafelt, 46, of Clarion will stand trial on Thursday, December 1, on the following charges:

• Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3
• Indecent Assault Person Less than 13 Years of Age, Misdemeanor 1 (4 counts)
• Indecent Assault Person Less than 16 Yrs of Age, Misdemeanor 2 (4 counts)
• Harassment – Subject Other to Physical Contact, Summary (4 counts)

According to court documents, on November 16, 2016, the Clarion County District Attorney’s Office filed a Motion for Testimony by Contemporaneous Alternative Method. In any prosecution involving a child victim or a child material witness, the court may order
that the testimony be taken under oath in a room other than the courtroom and transmitted by a contemporaneous alternative method.

CYS Notifies State Police of Alleged Indecent Assault

Clarion-based State Police Trooper Rodney Hotchkiss filed charges against Shanafelt in March following an investigation that was initiated after Clarion County Children and Youth Services (CYS) notified Hotchkiss of a report involving alleged inappropriate contact between Shanafelt and the victim.

Court documents indicate that the alleged abuse occurred at a Clarion Township apartment in September of 2015.

Victim Interviewed by CYS

Clarion County CYS conducted a forensic interview with the victim at PA Cares for Kids in Jefferson County. Trooper Hotchkiss observed the interview from a different room via a closed-circuit camera.

During the interview, the victim stated that Shanafelt “touched her all over her body.”

According to the criminal complaint, the victim pointed to and identified areas where Shanafelt allegedly touched her, including the vaginal and breast areas.

The victim stated the one of the alleged incidents occurred as she was getting dressed. She told investigators that she was undressed when Shanafelt allegedly touched her.

Witness Interviewed by CYS

Clarion County CYS also interviewed a 9-year-old boy who witnessed the alleged incidents.

When asked if he knew why he was there, he replied “because of what Clint did to us, he smacked (us) on the butt for no reason and touched (6 year-old victim) in her private areas.”

According to the criminal complaint, the boy pointed to and identified areas where Shanafelt allegedly touched the victim, including the vaginal and breast areas.

He stated that on one occasion, the victim was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Shanafelt allegedly grabbed her shirt as she was walking away, almost ripping it and causing her to fall. Shanafelt then allegedly grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back.

During another incident described by the boy, the victim was standing in front of Shanafelt when he allegedly “told her to take her clothes off, and when she didn’t, he did it (for her). Shanafelt then allegedly “held (the victim) with one hand wrapped around her and touched her with the other hand.”

The boy described another incident that allegedly took place in a bathroom at the residence. He saw the victim with her pants down, and Shanafelt was allegedly touching her with his fingers. Shanafelt stopped touching the victim after someone knocked on the apartment door, according to the criminal complaint.

The boy described a fourth instance in which Shanafelt allegedly touched the victim inappropriately. He stated that the victim was not wearing a shirt, and Shanafelt was touching her chest. Shanafelt again stopped when someone knocked on the apartment door.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy told investigators that, during a separate incident, he saw Shanafelt touching the victim between the legs. The boy stated that after he saw this happen, he and another juvenile male tackled Shanafelt. The victim pulled up her pants and ran away, according to the boy.

He also told investigators about a separate occasion in which Shanafelt allegedly “smacked” him and another juvenile male “with a belt, for no reason.” He said that Shanafelt “just woke them up, pulled them out of bed, and smacked them with the metal part of the belt,” the complaint continues.

Also, Shanafelt recently pleaded guilty to the distribution of 2.9 grams of marijuana. He will be sentenced on December 14.