SUNBURY - A 20-year-old Mount Carmel man charged with making an obscene gesture in front of two young girls in late September in Coal Township pleaded guilty Monday morning to misdemeanors of obscene and other sexual materials and unlawful contact with a minor.
Rudy Huhn, of 403 N. Market St., entered the plea before Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor and will be sentenced after an evaluation by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board that will help determine if Huhn is a sexually violent predator.
Saylor ordered the adult probation department to complete a pre-sentence investigation within 90 days.
Additional charges of corruption of minors and disorderly conduct will not be prosecuted at the time of sentencing.
Huhn told the judge he understood the ramifications of entering a guilty plea to the charges, but questioned why he was charged with unlawful contact with a minor when he didn't make any physical contact with the two victims.
At that point of the proceeding, Huhn's attorney, Michael Romance of the Northumberland County Public Defender's Office, explained to his client that the charge was filed because Huhn allegedly initiated contact with the victims through his actions.
Huhn, who admitted to committing the acts, told the judge, "Sometimes, I don't think before I do things. I'm sorry it happened and I'm willing to get counseling."
'Certain disorders'
Saylor ordered the evaluation by the Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to be completed within 90 days. After a recommendation is made by the assessment board, Saylor will then rule if Huhn is a sexually violent predator.
Prior to the plea, Romance read the Megan's Law colloquy to his client.
Romance told the court Huhn's parents informed him that their son suffers from certain disorders. Saylor told Romance to inform the adult probation department about the disorders, which could affect the sentencing.
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. Sept. 29 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.