‘Grow up!’ judge tells man who molested teen girls in 2 central Pa. counties

A Dauphin County judge had a message Tuesday for a 20-year-old man who admitted to molesting teenage girls in two central Pennsylvania counties.

“You need to take the time to grow up, take this seriously,” Judge William T. Tully told Boyd Nouse.

Tully issued that advice after sentencing the Dillsburg man to 8 to 23 months in county prison on his guilty pleas to charges of statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors for molesting a 14-year-old girl in Lower Paxton Township last year.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle said those charges were filed against Nouse after the victim saw a news report about Nouse’s arrest for repeatedly molesting a 13-year-old girl in Cumberland County. Nouse served a 6- to 23-month jail sentence in that Hampden Township case.

How seriously Nouse is taking his two convictions is unknown. Gettle described Nouse as “immature.” Nouse repeatedly tried to make jokes during his sentencing hearing.

Tully immediately paroled Nouse, who already had spent more than 8 months in prison since his arrest in the Dauphin County case.

Gettle said Nouse met the Lower Paxton Township victim through Facebook.

Public Defender Elizabeth Ruby said Nouse was prepared to admit to his crime from the moment of his arrest. “He’s very smart. He just needs to channel it better,” she said. “He’s looking forward to moving on, putting his past behind.”

Tully told Nouse he needs to stay away from underage girls. “My grandfather said the same thing,” Nouse replied.

“I’ve learned from this. I can be a good person. I can be productive in society,” Nouse said. “I know what I did was wrong…I wanted to own up to my mistakes.”

Nouse remains under 2 years of probation and must register with police as a sex offender for 25 years. Gettle warned that another sex crime conviction would send him to prison for 25 years, and possibly for life.

“You need to stay away from teenagers,” the prosecutor said.

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