COAL TOWNSHIP - A 20-year-old Mount Carmel man was taken into custody Thursday night and charged with four misdemeanor offenses after he allegedly made an obscene gesture in front of two young girls at a playground next to the Ferndale ballfield.
Rudy Huhn, of 403 N. Market St., was arraigned at 10:15 p.m. via video by on-call Magisterial District Judge Robert Bolton of Milton on charges of obscene and other sexual materials, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and disorderly conduct. The first three charges are misdemeanors of the first degree that each carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and $10,000 fine. The disorderly conduct offense is a misdemeanor of the third degree and carries a maximum penalty of one year incarceration and $2,500 fine.
Huhn was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $70,000 cash bail.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan, Huhn is accused of rubbing his genitals, with his pants still on, against a fence post in front of two girls, ages 10 and 11, at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Police reported a man who lives on West Nelson Street across from the playground reported seeing a male, who was later identified as Huhn, walking back and forth along the playground fence. The neighbor, who told police the man looked suspicious, said Huhn began rubbing his genital area along a sign post that was facing the playground and children.
When the witness approached Huhn, he entered his pickup truck and drove away from the playground without his lights on. The neighbor, whose wife also witnessed the incident, said Huhn drove west on Hill Street and later parked the truck near Hill and Ash streets. As the witness and another male neighbor approached Huhn's vehicle, he pulled out and drove past them, again without his lights on. The other neighbor stopped Huhn a short time later on Montgomery Street.
Police said when both neighbors asked Huhn why he was staring at young kids in the playground, Huhn told them he was sorry and asked if he could apologize to the children. Police said Huhn also admitted that he rubbed his genitals along the fence post while he was watching the children.
Huhn was then taken into custody and questioned by Brennan at the police station. During the interview, Huhn admitted he intentionally stopped at the playground to watch the children. He also told the detective that he wanted the girls to see him rubbing his genitals.