Edward J. Frisco admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he sexually molested a young girl last July in the city.
Frisco, 44, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Judge James P. Goodman accepted Frisco's plea but did not immediately sentence him, instead ordering the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to evaluate whether the defendant is a sexually violent predator.
Goodman returned Frisco to prison, where he is being held in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail pending sentencing, after accepting his guilty plea.
If Goodman rules that Frisco is a sexually violent predator, he would impose lifetime Megan's Law sanctions on him. He will impose sanctions for a shorter period of time if he determines Frisco is not a sexually violent predator.
Pottsville police charged Frisco with sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Pottsville girl on July 24, 2012.
Police said the girl was walking home with Frisco when he allegedly fondled her and grabbed her around the waist.
Frisco admitted that he intentionally fondled the girl, according to police.
The Megan's Law sanctions to which Frisco will be subject include requirements that he report his address, employment and educational statuses, Social Security and telephone numbers and vehicle descriptions and licenses, and any change in them, to state police for the rest of his life after he leaves prison. Any failure to comply with those sanctions is a crime in itself and could result in further prosecution.
Megan's Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level following the 1994 murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, N.J. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka's killer, was a convicted sex offender and one of the girl's neighbors.
He is serving a life sentence following then-New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine's commutation of his death sentence after that state abolished the death penalty.Defendant: Edward J. Frisco
Age: 44
Residence: Pottsville
Crimes committed: Indecent assault and corruption of minors