Kenneth Yerger Denied Bail for the Third Time

LOCK HAVEN— Kenneth Yerger, 28, from Longmeadow Lane in State College, was once again denied his release from prison on bail during a bail hearing on Friday, February 7, 2025. The hearing took place at the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas before the Honorable Judge Michael Salisbury. Defense Attorney Brian Ulmer represented Yerger, and Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse represented the Commonwealth.

District Attorney Strouse argued that with Yerger facing 59 felony counts of sexual assault involving minors, which could result in a 400-year prison sentence, the current bail of $750,000 should be upheld.

On Monday, February 10, 2025, Judge Salisbury upheld the bail amount, meaning Yerger will remain in the Clinton County Correctional Facility unless the $750,000 cash bail is met. 

A jury trial has been scheduled from August 7 to August 12, 2025, at the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas.

On August 26, 2024, the story of Yerger having his charges bound over to court was mentioned on the Clinton County, PA CrimeWatch website. 

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/bail-denied-3rd-time 

On August 26, 2024, Yerger was bound over for trial following a lengthy preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Frank Mills on more than 50 counts of sex-related offenses committed against four females between the ages of 9 and 15 years of age. The three-hour hearing saw District Attorney Dave Strouse present each of the juvenile victims, who testified to a total of 17 separate acts perpetrated by Yerger between 2017 and 2022. After the testimony concluded, D.A. Strouse moved to amend the criminal complaint, adding 24 additional counts against Yerger based on the victims’ testimonies, which dramatically increased the number of the alleged incidents. 

Judge Mills approved the amendments, concluding that the Commonwealth provided sufficient evidence to support the charges and bound the charges over, moving Yerger closer to a jury trial in the case.

Yerger faced the following charges as of August 26, 2024:

– 2 counts of Rape of a Child (F1)

– 2 counts of Statutory Sexual Assault (F2)

– 2 counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault (F2)

– 15 counts of Indecent Assault (F3)

– 17 counts of Unlawful Contact with a Minor (F1)

– 2 counts of Sexual Assault (F2)

– 17 counts of Corruption of Minors (F3)

– 2 counts of Indecent Assault (F3)

After prevailing on the preliminary hearing, D.A. Strouse requested an immediate bail modification, citing the overwhelming nature of the evidence against Yerger, the potential decades-long prison sentence he faced, and the “increased probability that Mr. Yerger presents a flight risk now that he knows how much evidence there truly is against him,” Strouse argued.

Judge Mills agreed with the Commonwealth and modified bail to $750,000 monetary. This decision evoked a verbal outburst from Yerger in the courtroom, during which he claimed the prosecutor was “taking away his life.” Deputy Sheriffs quickly took Yerger into custody and transported him to the Clinton County Correctional Facility.  

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/da/133000/post/state-college-man-bound-over-child-sex-abuse-charges