CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Clarion man who was caught with a 14-year-old runaway from McKean County is scheduled to be sentenced next week.
According to court documents, 19-year-old Daniel Paul Dean Jr., of Clarion, is scheduled to appear at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, in the Clarion County Court of Commons Pleas in front of President Judge James G. Arner.
Dean pleaded guilty to the following charges:
– Interference with Custody of Children, Felony 3
– Corruption of Minors, Misdemeanor 1
As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:
– Statutory Sexual Assault: 4-8 Years Older, Felony 2 (two counts)
– Indecent Assault Person Less 16 Years Age, Misdemeanor 2 (two counts)
Dean is currently free on $10,000.00 cash bail.
Details of the case:
The investigation was initiated on August 22 after Clarion Borough Police received information from Clarion-based State Police about a 14-year-old female runaway from Smethport, Pa.
It was believed the runaway was in the company of Daniel Paul Dean Jr..
A criminal complaint filed by Clarion Borough Police Department Officer Sheckler indicated that police unsuccessfully attempted to locate Dean at his 187 Wilson Avenue residence on two occasions.
Following further investigation, it was determined that Dean and the victim were at an apartment located at 427 Grand Avenue.
Officer Sheckler arrived at the apartment and took the victim into protective custody by placing her in his patrol car.
“I returned to Dean and told him he wasn’t too bright,” said Sheckler in the criminal complaint.
The criminal complaint states that Dean told Officer Sheckler that he believed the girl was 16 years old.
The victim was transported to the Clarion Borough Police Station where she was interviewed by Clarion County CYS. Following a brief discussion, she was taken to the Clarion Hospital ER for evaluation.
In the early morning hours of August 23, Dean was interviewed by Clarion Borough Police Chief William V. Peck, IV, at the police station.
The criminal complaint states that Dean told Chief Peck that he met the victim through a mutual friend during the Summer of 2016. The two had been dating for approximately two months prior to August 23, according to Dean.
According to the criminal complaint, Dean and a friend drove to Smethport and picked the victim up at a local library on August 21.
Dean said he spoke to the victim’s mother via telephone on August 21 around 10:30 p.m.
The victim’s mother told Dean that she had reported her daughter missing. Dean also said that the mother told him that “her daughter was only 14 years old.”
Dean stated that the victim told him she was 17 years old.
Additionally, a resident of the Grand Avenue apartment told Clarion Borough Police Officer O’Neil that Dean and the victim allegedly stayed in the upstairs bedroom while they were at the residence.
