Jury Selection Set for Today for Knox Man Accused of Child Sex Crimes

| March 19, 2018

CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A Knox man facing nearly 50 charges related to alleged sex crimes is scheduled to go to trial at the end of the month.

According to court documents, jury selection in the trial of 33-year-old Chad Aaron Renninger, of Knox, is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 19, in the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas.

Renninger’s trial is scheduled for Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27, with President Judge James G. Arner presiding.

Renninger faces the following charges:

– Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above, Felony 3 (two counts)
– Indecent Assault Person Less than 13 Years of Age, Felony 3 (17 counts)
– Indecent Assault Person Less than 16 Years Age, Misdemeanor 2 (17 counts)
– Invasion of Privacy – Photograph, view, etc., intimate parts of other people, Misdemeanor 3 (six counts)
– Criminal Attempt – Invasion of Privacy – Photograph, view, etc., intimate parts of other people, Misdemeanor 3 (six counts)

Case Details: 

According to a criminal complaint filed on February 13, 2017, by State Trooper Hotchkiss, the investigation began on July 18, 2016, when a female victim accompanied by her parents arrived at the Clarion-based State Police barracks to report a case of sexual abuse.

During an interview, the victim told Trooper Hotchkiss that Renninger sexually assaulted her multiple times at his Beaver Township residence.

According to the criminal complaint, she stated that the abuse started when she was five years old and continued through age 11.

The victim stated that Renninger “would kiss her, undress her and touch her body” in his bedroom approximately four to five times per week. She said the abuse ended when Renninger got married, according to the complaint.

The victim also stated that Renninger attempted to video record her while she was in the bathroom, the complaint indicates.

On one occasion, the victim was getting ready to take a shower and noticed Renninger’s laptop sitting on the counter in “record mode.” She then reviewed the footage and deleted it, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim also told Trooper Hotchkiss that she viewed a video in which a second female victim was recorded.

Victim Two Interviewed

Trooper Hotchkiss conducted an interview with a second female juvenile victim who stated that Renninger attempted to video record her approximately five times, according to the complaint.

During the summer of 2015, the victim stayed overnight at Renninger’s house multiple times. The victim recounted the first incident in which Renninger recorded her when “she was going to take a shower and before she went into the bathroom, (Renninger) told her that he would put music on for her and went into the bathroom and set up his laptop,” according to the complaint.

The victim told Trooper Hotchkiss that “before she undressed, she noticed no music was playing but a red light was on. She looked at the laptop, and it was in record mode,” the complaint indicates.

She said that similar incidents occurred on two additional occasions at Renninger’s residence and twice while she was camping with Renninger’s family.

The victim stated that Renninger never touched her; however, she said she was aware of a male victim that was allegedly sexually abused by Renninger and “forced to touch (Renninger) but was too afraid to talk about it,” according to the complaint.

Male Victim Interviewed

During an interview with Trooper Hotchkiss, the male victim stated that he was sexually abused following Renninger’s divorce approximately three years ago. The abuse occurred on multiple occasions during the past three years at the victim’s house and at Renninger’s house, according to the complaint.

“(Renninger) would grab the victim’s hand and force him to touch (Renninger’s) private parts,” according to the victim.

Renninger also allegedly took the victim’s pants off and took his own pants off. He then allegedly made contact with the victim in an inappropriate manner, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim also alleged that Renninger sexually abused him in a bathhouse during a 2010 camping trip, the complaint states.

The victim stated that the abuse last occurred in June 2016.

He also told Trooper Hotchkiss that “he was too scared to say anything” at the time.

Court documents indicate that the victim was between the ages of seven and 10 when the abuse took place.

RELATED:

Knox Man Accused in 2001 Child Rape Case; Charges Pile Up as Four Vicims Have Now Come Forward


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