State Liquor control officer charged in child sex assaults

Berdine has been employed with PSP since September 2008

A state police liquor control officer from Cambria County has been arrested for sexual offenses against two children while they were between the ages of 6-8 years old.

Pennsylvania State Police arrested Scott Berdine, 40, of Belsano, on Thursday.

He faces charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and corruption of minors and misdemeanor indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age related to a girl (age 6-7) between Jan. 1, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2018.

For acts committed by the accused to a girl (age 6-8) between Jan. 1, 2019, to July 5, 2021, he faces five felonies, including two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and three counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and two misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors.

Berdine was arraigned Thursday by Cambria County Magisterial District Judge John Prebish Jr.

Court documents state an investigation was launched in August after Cambria County Children and Youth Services received reports of alleged inappropriate contact with two children between the ages of 6-8 years old.

Berdine is accused of blindfolding the two children and sexually assaulting them at his home in Blacklick Township, WJAC reported.

Police said Berdine was interviewed and denied the allegations, stating the accusations were made to cause drama.

According to state police, Berdine has been employed with the PSP as an Enforcement Officer 3 within the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement since September 2008.

He is assigned to the Punxsutawney District Enforcement Office and is suspended without pay pending the resolution of the criminal charges against him.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled March 8 before Magisterial District Judge Richard A. Ireland.