Riggles Gap man pleads no contest
Christy expected to be added to registry of sexual offenders
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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A Riggles Gap man is expected to be added to the state's sexual offender registry after rendering no contest pleas to criminal charges in connection to sexually assaulting a 7-year-old boy in 2018.
David E. Christy, 59, was sentenced Friday to one to two years in the Blair County Prison, followed by three years of probation, after entering no contest pleas to indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of a child.
While Christy's criminal record includes 1986 convictions in two prior sexual offenses in Cambria County, both of those cases were addressed prior to Pennsylvania's creation of a registry for sexual offenders.
With Christy's newest convictions, he will be required to register his address and related information with state police for the rest of his life, for inclusion on the state's Megan's Law website, First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith said.
Altoona police arrested Christy in June 2018 after an investigation alleging that he crawled into bed with the child, fondled the child until awakening the boy, then continued assaulting the child until leaving the bedroom.
Blair County Judge Daniel J. Milliron, who reviewed Christy's plea and proposed sentence, also listened to comments from the youth's mother, who praised her son for coming forward and criticized the length of
Christy's incarceration.
"It's not even half of what he should have gotten," the mother said.
Smith told Milliron the negotiated plea was reached as a way to spare the youth from having to testify at a trial.
Defense attorney Mark Zearfaus asked the judge if his client, who is legally blind, could delay reporting to jail in light of current health conditions that could require surgery.
Christy, who has been out of jail on bail, has never violated his bail conditions, Zearfaus said, and once incarcerated, he will be in the county prison for a year.
Smith told Milliron that the mother was opposed to Christy's request to remain out of jail until as late as September. The assistant district attorney pointed out that the arrest was three years ago and the case had languished because of delays associated with COVID-19.
"The day of judgment is here," Smith said.
Milliron, who elected to delay Christy's prison reporting date until July 23, ordered Christy to have no contact with the youth or the youth's family members.
The mother acknowledged that Christy had been a friend of a family member at the time of the boy's assault and presented himself as a grandfather to the youth. The mother also expressed regret while addressing the judge.
"The one thing you try to protect your child from was right under my nose," the mother said.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.