Scottdale man cleared of indecent assault charges
A Scottdale man accused of biting a 14-year-old girl on the neck was found not guilty of all charges by a Fayette County jury on Thursday.
Ira Howard White, 41, of 420 Newman St. was charged with indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and harassment following an incident that occurred on Oct. 5 at a location in Dunbar Township.
The jury of eight women and four men deliberated for about an hour before asking Senior Judge Gerald R. Solomon to re-instruct them on the laws that were applicable in each charge. Within a half hour of the second set of instructions, the jurors reached their verdict.
White denied having any inappropriate contact with the teen when he testified in his own defense.
The teen told jurors on Wednesday she was helping her mother at a fundraiser and social event and went outside at some point to get some fresh air. She said thought she was alone and was surprised when White, whom she had seen before but didn’t know, grabbed her by her arms and forced her against a wall.
The girl testified White bit the left side of her neck, which scared her to the point of defecating and falling down. At that point, she said, White reached down to help her to her feet, and once she was upright, he again pinned her to the wall and “latched on” to her neck. The assault resulted in a red mark on her neck, she said.
The Herald-Standard does not identify victims who allege they were assaulted in a sexual manner.
Assistant Public Defender Michael Garofalo represented White. Assistant District Attorney Meghann Mikluscak prosecuted the case.