Lords Valley man charged with the sexual abuse of children
Lords Valley. At the time of the search warrant, the state police said, two young children were found at Jerald Ungerer's residence and brought to the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center.
| 03 Apr 2020 | 09:50
Jerald Ungerer
The Pennsylvania State Police charged Jerald Ungerer of Lords Valley, 33, with the felony offenses of sexual abuse of children: photographing, videotaping, depicting on computer or filming sexual acts, indecent assault and corruption of a minor.
The announcement was made on April 1 by Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin.
On March 12, the Pennsylvania State Police, accompanied by federal and local law enforcement, executed a search warrant upon Ungerer’s residence. He was arrested and charged with the dissemination and possession of child sexual abuse materials with bail being set at $250,000.
At the time of the search warrant, two young children were found at the residence and immediately brought to the Pike County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC). There, a team of law enforcement and social workers, victim advocates, and other “helpers” gathered to assist in the investigation. The team also worked to support the children and their non-offending caregiver during this time of complete upheaval.
Based upon evidence uncovered following the early morning search warrant, it was suspected that at least one of the children was being victimized by Ungerer. He was charged with those offenses and an additional $250,000 bail was set.
Sarah Wilson, Senior Deputy District Attorney and Director of CAC services, noted that the arrest and criminal charges were the result of cooperation between law enforcement, CAC staff and other disciplines.
"April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month," Wilson said. "Despite the current COVID-19 pandemic, the professionals in Pike County tasked with investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases and supporting victims are working with the same focus as always to protect children."
At court, Ungerer elected to waive his right to a preliminary hearing upon both sets of charges. Magisterial District Justice Alan Cooper conducted court via videoconferencing with the Pike County Correctional Facility. A date will be set in the Court of Common Pleas for his formal arraignment.