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Man Jailed on Sexual Assault of Minor

An Altoona man is behind bars after an investigation by Hollidaysburg State Police into the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in Woodbury and Catharine Townships.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the investigation of Jerry L. Fultz, 74, began on April 6, 2021, when the victim told police that Fultz began assaulting her in 2018 when she was 10 years old during her visits to a Catherine Township farm.

According to police, Fultz has a camp in Woodbury Township that connects with the Catherine Township farm. Police said the victim reported that when she visited the farm, Fultz, who was a friend of the family, would take her into the woods and assault her.

Police said the victim reported first being assaulted by Fultz in his truck on farm property. Police said during the assault, Fultz held the victim down while he sexually assaulted her.

Police said the victim recounted an incident at Fultz’ camp where he ordered the victim to lie down on a mattress while Fultz “groped” her. The victim told police that Fultz grabbed her hard enough to cause her pain.

The victim told police that on another occasion at the farm, Fultz removed the shorts he was wearing and exposed himself to the victim. Police said Fultz directed the victim to touch him while Fultz assaulted her.

The victim told police that the last time Fultz assaulted her was late April, 2021 when Fultz allegedly assaulted the victim with his hand and directed the victim to touch his privates.

The victim told police that she visited the farm every Saturday and that some form of sexual assault occurred every time Fultz took her into the woods. Police said the victim told them that the assaults occurred beginning in September 2018 and ended in April 2021.

Fultz is facing seven felony counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, four felony counts each on charges of unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and aggravated indecent assault, as well as a misdemeanor count of indecent assault forcible compulsion.

Fultz was arraigned by Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger and jailed on $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 26 in front of Blattenberger.

 

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