More indecent assault charges filed against Polk man

From staff reports

A Polk man accused of the indecent assault of a 13-year-old girl last month is facing 40 additional charges in a separate case involving another juvenile girl.

A criminal complaint filed through district judge Matthew Kirtland’s office said on July 8, Franklin state police interviewed a 12-year-old Erie girl who said she had been sexually assaulted by 61-year-old Jeffrey Malliard on numerous occasions since 2013.

The girl said the incidents occurred when she lived next to Malliard on Valley Road in Polk. She said one of the last incidents took place when she was around 11 years old, the complaint said.

The girl had been playing a game in Malliard’s home when he held her down and made inappropriate contact with her while both were still wearing clothing. She said she finally freed herself and ran to the bathroom to hide before leaving the house, the complaint said.

On other occasions, Malliard would make inappropriate comments and force the girl to touch him inappropriately over his clothing and vice versa, the complaint said.

The girl was also interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Erie on Monday where she disclosed the same information, the complaint said.

Malliard is facing four felony counts of criminal attempt-aggravated indecent assault of child and 12 felony counts each of unlawful contact with minor-sexual offense, indecent assault of person less than 13 years of age and corruption of minors.

He is also facing charges in a separate incident involving a 13-year-old girl that allegedly occurred on June 15.

The charges are a felony count of criminal attempt – aggravated indecent assault – complainant less than 16 and misdemeanor counts of indecent assault of person less than 16 years of age and corruption of minors.

Malliard was released Wednesday after posting $50,000 bail at 10 percent.

Preliminary hearings for both cases are tentatively scheduled Wednesday in Central Court.