Ex-roadmaster acquitted of rape

Jacob Yorgey - a former Douglass (Berks) Township roadmaster who had been charged with rape and aggravated indecent assault of an 8-year-old girl - was acquitted of all charges by a 12-person jury on Oct. 12 in Berks County Court of Common Pleas.

The Boyertown Area Times/October 27, 2005
By Aaron Jenkins

Yorgey, 56, was also found not guilty of charges of aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child, indecent exposure, indecent assault, and corruption of minors.

According to Berks County Detectives, the alleged child endangerment incidents occurred between July 1997 and December 1998 at Yorgey's

Colebrookdale Road residence when the victim was 8 and 9 years old.

The victim, who is now 16, was allegedly molested over the span of a year when the victim was baby-sat by Yorgey's wife.

"He was the wrongfully accused guy from the beginning," said Robert Kirwan II, Yorgey's attorney. "Throughout the trial, he has always maintained his innocence since day one."

Kirwan said the case was one of false memory, in which the victim has a history of depression and attempted suicide. The investigating officer testified "there were a number of factors that were classic signs of a false memory," according to Kirwan, such as the victim unable to recall the time and place of the alleged incidents. "These are all signs of false memories created in her mind," he said.

"The jury at least recognized that this exists and based the case on evidence," Kirwan said.

Yorgey also testified at the trial.

"He could have easily hid behind the Fifth Amendment and say nothing," Kirwan said.