SHAMOKIN - A 20-year-old Mount Carmel man charged with making an obscene gesture in front of two young girls last week in Coal Township waived his right to a preliminary hearing and court arraignment Tuesday morning and was set free on unsecured bail.
Rudy Huhn, of 403 N. Market St., waived to court misdemeanor offenses of obscene and other sexual materials, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and disorderly conduct before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.
The defendant, who was incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury since his arrest on the charges Thursday night, was released by Gembic on unsecured bail and ordered to appear for a guilty plea proceeding Nov. 14 at Northumberland County Courthouse, at which time he can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.
Huhn had been held on $70,000 cash bail set by Magisterial District Judge Robert Bolton of Milton at his arraignment.
Gembic placed Huhn on supervised probation monitored by the adult probation department and ordered him to comply with various bail conditions, including staying away from playgrounds, schools and other areas where children may be gathered. He also was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation within 30 days.
Huhn was represented at the legal proceeding by Northumberland County Public Defender Michael Romance.
Huhn was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with 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 at a playground near the Ferndale ballfield.
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.