Donald W. Kearney Jr., who admitted having sexual contact with a teenage girl in 2014, will be subject to Megan’s Law restrictions for 15 years, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Tuesday.
Following the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, Judge Charles M. Miller decided Kearney, 39, of Shamokin, is not a sexually violent predator but is a sexual offender and subject to the restrictions.
“Do you understand everything that was on there?” Miller asked Kearney about the form acknowledging he will be subject to the restrictions.
“Yes,” Kearney answered.
The Megan’s Law sanctions will require Kearney to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the state police for 15 years. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Kearney to further prosecution.
Kearney pleaded guilty Nov. 12, 2015, to corruption of minors, with prosecutors withdrawing nine counts of indecent assault and four of unlawful contact with a minor. At the time, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Miller placed Kearney on probation for five years, and also sentenced him to have no contact with the victim or her family, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.
State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Kearney engaged in sexual activity with the girl between Aug. 1, 2014, and Oct. 31, 2014, in Eldred Township. Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith said Tuesday that the girl was 15 at the time of the contact.
Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.
Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.