From staff reports
Jefferson County District Attorney Jeff Burkett announced Michael Scott Zernell, 54, of Reynoldsville, has been declared a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law and has been sentenced on child sexual and other offenses.
In June, a jury found Zernell guilty of criminal attempt to commit statutory sexual assault, two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child under 13, aggravated indecent assault of a child under 13, and three counts of indecent assault, six child pornography offenses, three counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and three counts of invasion of privacy, according to Burkett’s office.
On Thursday, Zernell appeared for sentencing in front of Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas Judge John H. Foradora and received an aggregate sentence of 37 1/2 to 80 years.