Officer Michael Fernsler Molests Two 4 Yr Old Girls

[Critique]

August 11, 2007

BY REGGIE SHEFFIELD

A police officer who also dressed up as Chuckles the police clown and performed for midstate children pleaded guilty yesterday toa sexual assault involving two 4-year-old girls.

Michael Fernsler, 34, of the 3700 block of Orrstown Road, Franklin County, faces a maximum of 95 years in prison and as much as a $80,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled in Nov. 14.

In March 2006, Swatara Twp. police received a report from a township resident that her two foster children had been molested by a friend of the family. The girls were then taken to Harrisburg Hospital where they were examined. Medical evidence corroborated the girls' stories.

When he was arrested, Fernsler admitted molesting the two girls and said he was seeking counseling because he was addicted to pornography.

Fernsler had positioned himself to be near children, authorities said. In a 2004 Patriot-News story, Fernsler said his clown act had landed him invitations from nursing homes, hospitals and day-care centers.

Dauphin County Judge Todd A. Hoover advised Fernsler that after his sentencing he would be subject to evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board on whether he's a violent sexual predator.

Fernsler, who had a form of sex with one of the girls in front of her sister, pleaded guilty to one count each of indecent sexual intercourse, unlawful contact and indecent assault as well as two counts of corruption of a minor.

Fernsler remains free on $50,000 bail even after Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean M. McCormack told Hoover that police had reported to him that Fernsler had been recently spotted at a neighborhood pool frequented by children. A condition of Fernsler's release on bail specifies that he's to have no contact with children.

Fernsler was arrested at his second job as a Shippensburg University police officer, where he had worked for less than a year.

Fernsler was a North Londonderry Twp. patrolman for almost two years. Before that he was a Baltimore County, Md., police officer for four years. He had also served three years in the Army.

http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnew ... xml&coll=1

[KC]

The sentencing of a former North Londonderry police officer for sexually molesting two girls in Dauphin County last year was delayed yesterday until Jan. 22, according to a Harrisburg newspaper.

Michael Fernsler, whose last address is listed at 622 E. Queen St., Annville, was arrested Tuesday on charges of kidnapping, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and indecent exposure, according to the Lebanon County Detective Bureau. The 34-year-old Fernsler was arraigned before District Judge John Arnold, who set bail at $100,000.

Fernsler had been free on $50,000 bail since pleading guilty in August to sexually assaulting two 4-year-old girls in Swatara Township, Dauphin County. He had been scheduled to be sentenced yesterday afternoon in connection with that case.

Yesterday, Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover revoked Fernsler’s bail, a Harrisburg newspaper reported today. Fernsler was in the Dauphin County prison this morning, according to Lebanon County prison officials.

Fernsler was arrested after North Londonderry Township police were called about a sexual assault. Police said a 14-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted.

The girl was walking down a wooded lane to her home after being dropped off by a school bus Tuesday around 3:25 p.m. when she heard a noise behind her, according to an affidavit of probable cause. She told police she was grabbed from behind by a masked man she recognized as Fernsler.

According to the affidavit, Fernsler bound her hands, blindfolded her, put tape over her mouth and led her at knifepoint into a wooded area, threatening her if she resisted. Fernsler exposed himself to her and sexually assaulted her, police said. The girl managed to escape her attacker, hid and telephoned police for assistance.

Police said the girl provided a detailed description of the suspect, who had fled the scene.

Fernsler was taken into custody by Palmyra borough police not far from the scene of the alleged incident.

Fernsler worked as a North Londonderry Township patrolman from 2003 to 2005. He also did local charity work as Chuckles the Clown.


http://www.ldnews.com/news/ci_7470951

[Maxxx]

Like many of his Blue Brothers he is mearly ahead of his time. He works from the belief that "the Children are the future" and like so many of his brothers he just wants "hands on training" http://www.policefremont.com

[WaTcHeR]

LEBANON, PA - A former police officer who often performed as a children’s clown and who is serving a prison term for molesting two 4-year-old girls has pleaded guilty to assaulting a 14-year-old North Londonderry Twp. girl in November.

Michael Fernsler, 34, of Annville, was charged with attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, kidnapping and related offenses.

District Attorney Dave Arnold said the plea agreement Tuesday ensures a minimum sentence of 12 years.

Arnold said he will “strongly argue” during sentencing in May to make the sentence consecutive to the 26 to 52 years Fernsler is serving in the other case.

Police reports in November said the 14-year-old girl had just left a school bus when she was accosted by a masked man.

He bound her hands, covered her eyes and mouth with duct tape, and took her at knifepoint into the woods, police said.

Police said the girl recognized Fernsler, who sexually assaulted her.

She managed to remove the duct tape from her mouth, screamed, fought him, escaped and called police, who found Fernsler near the site of the attack.

Fernsler had pleaded guilty in August to molesting two girls in Swatara Twp., Dauphin County, but was free on bail at the time of the North Londonderry attack, waiting to be sentenced.

Fernsler’s second arrest led to calls to close a loophole in the Megan’s Law sexual offender statute that requires judges to delay sentencing 90 days while defendants are evaluated for classification as sexually violent predators.

Fernsler was a police officer for Shippensburg University when he was arrested in the first assault case.

He also worked as a North Londonderry Twp. police officer between 2003 and 2005.

He had appeared as “Chuckles the Clown” in churches and day care centers on behalf of the North Londonderry police department.