Man admits indecent contract with young girl
A 56-year-old man is facing jail after pleading guilty to indecent assault involving an 11-year-old girl.
NORRISTOWN >> An East Norriton man has admitted that he inappropriately touched an underage girl who was in his company, an incident that came to light when he confessed to members of the girl’s family.
Howard Lawrence Greenblatt, 56, of the 100 block of Marielle Lane, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to charges of indecent assault of a person less than 16 and corruption of a minor in connection with an incident that occurred between February and March 2016. Judge Thomas C. Branca deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report, including a psychosexual evaluation, about Greenblatt.
Greenblatt, who remains free on bail pending sentencing, faces a possible maximum sentence of 4½ to nine years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for less jail time.
Greenblatt also faces an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which will determine if he meets criteria under state law to be classified as a sexually violent predator. Those classified as predators face more stringent restrictions, including mandatory counseling and community notification about their living arrangements.
An investigation of Greenblatt began in March 2016 after Greenblatt approached relatives of the 11-year-old girl and confessed that he had touched the girl in an indecent manner while the girl previously was in his company. Greenblatt, who knew the girl’s family, reportedly told the girl’s relatives that he knew it was wrong and that he felt guilty about his conduct, court papers indicate.
Greenblatt made the admission, according to court papers, because he assumed the girl had reported his conduct to her family.
The girl’s relative, according to East Norriton Sergeant David W. Boyer, was “horrified and shocked” by Greenblatt’s admission. Relatives subsequently notified authorities who launched an investigation.
The victim was interviewed by child social workers and she disclosed that Greenblatt did touch her in an inappropriate manner over her clothing on several occasions while she was in his company, according to the arrest affidavit. The girl disclosed to investigators they played a game called “Good Kid – Bad Kid” during which Greenblatt would capture her and hold her on his lap and that part of the game included that she had to escape from Greenblatt, according to court papers.