Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
Frank L. Knappenberger Jr., of Pottstown, is accused of kissing and touching a 13-year-old girl in Upper Frederick.
A Pottstown octogenarian heads to pre-trial conference this week in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court on felony charges of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children, among other offenses, for allegedly kissing and touching a 13-year-old in an Upper Frederick Township home.
Frank L. Knappenberger Jr., 82, of the 900 block of North Hanover Street, was also charged in July by Pennsylvania State Police-Skippack with three misdemeanor counts each of indecent assault on a person under 16 and indecent assault without consent, according to court records.
Knappenberger remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail ahead of his trial.
Police said on Dec. 19, 2023, the teenage victim told police that Knappenberger has always been weird around her and always tries to kiss her when she was at a home
The victim told police she was alone in the kitchen with Knappenberger when he kissed her, per the complaint. Knappenberger, police allege, repeated the same behavior two other times with the victim.
Police interviewed Knappenberger on Jan. 9, 2024, told him they were there to discuss the incidents with the victim, and asked if he knew what they were talking about, per the affidavit. Knappenberger told police it was about when “he gave her a kiss that was inappropriate,” police said.
He told authorities he did not know what happened, and he had been trying to figure it out, police said.
Knappenberger, police said, admitted he went past the point of appropriateness and now had “a bad, uncomfortable feeling.”
Knappenberger told police, “I am miserable with myself. I’m ashamed of myself. I can’t get why. That’s the question: Why, why, why?” per the complaint.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
