Corruption of Minors Charges Against New Bethlehem Man Dismissed

ARMSTRONG CO., Pa. (EYT) – Charges against a New Bethlehem man accused of using a social media application to arrange sexual encounters with an underage boy were recently dismissed.

Court documents indicate that the following charges against 48-year-old Scott Carter Sherry, of New Bethlehem, were dismissed on Wednesday, August 15:

– Corruption of Minors, Misdemeanor 1 (two counts)

Two second-degree felony counts of interference with custody of children were previously dropped in lower court.

According to a memorandum issued by President Judge Chase G. McClister, the court found there was insufficient evidence that Sherry committed the crime as charged.

The memorandum states pursual of the case would require finding that the minor involved was corrupted, or that Sherry’s actions would corrupt him, and notes that since the minor was over the age of 16, the age of consent in Pennsylvania, and was a willing participant, the sex acts themselves were not criminal.

It also notes that during the hearing, the minor testified to the following:

• he lied about his age in order to gain access to the Grindr app,
• his stated purpose for utilizing the Grindr app was in order to secure “hookups” or sexual encounters with men,
• he could not state with certainty who initiated the first contact between Sherry and himself,
• at no point during either of these encounters was he under force, the threat of force, or coerced,
• he was a willing and consenting participant in the sexual encounters that he had with Sherry,
• he could not recall an explicit statement to Sherry that he was 17 at the time,
• he did not contact the police regarding the sexual encounters with Sherry.

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