Published: April 03, 2008 11:54 pm      

Indecent-exposure allegations against young boys probed

Greater Johnstown school officials and city police are looking into a claim that three kindergarten-age boys exposed themselves to a female classmate this week.

“We’re going to continue to further investigate,” said Barbara Parkins, Greater Johnstown schools superintendent. “We’re still questioning students.

“From the information we have, there has been no assault.”

The 6-year-old girl told her mother that the boys had exposed themselves and tried to make her touch them.

The incident allegedly happened Tuesday in a classroom at East Side Elementary School, 220 Messenger St. in the Hornerstown neighborhood.

Parkins said it is not clear what, if any, action school leaders may take.

“If we do find anything, we’d take the appropriate disciplinary measures as per our code of conduct and school policy,” she said.

Cambria County District Attorney Patrick Kiniry said the report also is being investigated by Julie Wagner, the Johnstown Police Department’s juvenile officer.

Under state law, children younger than 10 who are accused of committing a delinquent/criminal act may be handled through what are known as dependency hearings in juvenile court, said Cindi Wess, chief juvenile probation officer.

A juvenile judge could have oversight of the child, monitoring the child’s behavior and home care and requiring counseling if necessary, she said.

Wess said it is unusual for a police department to file juvenile petitions against children that young, but added that it happens occasionally in serious cases.

By law, those proceedings are confidential and closed to the public, Wess said