Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
Frank L. Knappenberger Jr., of the 900 block of North Hanover Street, kissed the teenage victim more than twice, police said.
A Pottstown octogenarian avoided prosecution on two felony charges of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children, and instead pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault without consent earlier this month.
Frank L. Knappenberger Jr., 82, of the 900 block of North Hanover Street, had both felony charges, as well as three misdemeanor counts each of indecent assault on a person under 16 and two charges of indecent assault without consent dropped at a Jan. 8 pre-trial conference in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
Knappenberger was accused by Upper Frederick Township authorities of kissing and touching a 13-year-old girl in an Upper Frederick Township home.
Police said on Dec. 19, 2023, the teenage victim told police that Knappenberger had always been weird around her and always tried 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 repeated the same behavior two other times with the victim, police allege.
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 (the victim) a kiss that was inappropriate,” police said.
He told investigators he did not know what happened, and he had been trying to figure it out, police said.
Knappenberger admitted he went past the point of appropriateness and now had “a bad, uncomfortable feeling,” according to the affidavit.
“I am miserable with myself. I’m ashamed of myself. I can’t get why. That’s the question: Why, why, why?” Knappenberger allegedly told investigators.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
