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Local United Way President/CEO Bill Jones recalls encounter with Dan Rooney

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Divine Mercy Sunday services set for April 23 at local Catholic churches

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A state trooper charged with indecent assault on a child struck a plea deal before his preliminary hearing Friday.</p><p>Patrick Finn, 46, faced a felony count of corruption of minors and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault. In a deal reached just about an hour before the hearing, prosecutors dropped the indecent assault charges and reduced the felony corruption charge to a misdemeanor.</p><p>The agreement will keep Finn from having to register as a sex offender.</p><p>Finn, a corporal at a barracks in Carlisle, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/631289/state-trooper-accused-of-indecent-assault-of-child" target="_blank">was suspended without pay</a> after the charges were filed in February.</p><p>According to a criminal complaint:</p><p>The 9-year-old victim told police she gets scared when Finn drinks. She also revealed that Finn has driven her around while drunk.</p><p>The incident occurred around 3 a.m. Dec. 4 on South Main Road in Wright Township. Finn arrived home and crawled into bed with the victim, swiping her breast and telling her he wanted to have sex with her. The victim said based on her position in the bed, against a wall, she was unable to get to her phone or get out of the bed.</p><p>She was finally able to get out and later fell asleep on a couch in another room.</p><p>The victim then relayed the incident to her mother and Erin Odea, a mandated reporter for YWCA Greater Harrisburg.</p><p>Documents indicate the victim&#8217;s mother received an emergency protection-from-abuse order against Finn.</p><p>Finn&#8217;s attorney, Demetrius Fannick, hopes the plea agreement will &#8220;lead to a conclusion in this case.&#8221; Assistant District Attorney Angela Sperazza, overseeing the prosecution, declined comment.</p><p>The case was originally filed in District Judge Ronald Swank&#8217;s office but he recused himself.</p><p>Finn will now have a formal arraignment 10 a.m. June 29 in front of Luzerne County Judge Michael Vough. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

State trooper reaches plea deal in indecent assault case