ROARING SPRING - Accused Claysburg child molester Patrick Partsch was released on unsecured bail Thursday from Blair County Prison over protests from his alleged victim's family.
Partsch, charged with aggravated indecent assault against an 8-year-old girl, waived his right to a preliminary hearing the same morning that his wife, alleged child rapist Tabatha Partsch, was arraigned on several new charges.
"I'm very surprised. I don't think it's right," said the child's mother, who stood outside the Roaring Spring district court with her young daughter.
Patrick Partsch, in jail since his arrest Aug. 8, will live with his new girlfriend in the Claysburg area as he awaits trial, police said.
He must report regularly to a probation officer and is forbidden to have contact with any children during his release, Magisterial District Judge Craig Ormsby said.
If Patrick Partsch fails to attend his next hearing at the Blair County Courthouse, he'll be jailed and left on the hook for $75,000, Ormsby said.
"You could end up sitting in jail until this matter is resolved," he told Patrick Partsch.
The bail conditions were cold comfort to the alleged victim's family members, one of whom said, "It's bullcrap" when a police officer told them of Patrick Partsch's release.
Tabatha Partsch was arraigned Thursday on a series of new charges, including three counts of aggravated indecent assault and three counts of indecent assault on a young child.
Police filed the charges after relatives of another alleged victim, a 5-year-old boy, came forward with fresh allegations.
The boy allegedly told investigating Greenfield Township officers that Tabatha Partsch had fondled him repeatedly at her Claysburg home. She remains in Blair County Prison, her bail increased to $250,000 in light of the new charges. The new allegations bring the felony charges against her to 24.
