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February 21, 2012

Kopan pleads guilty to 5 counts of corruption of minors

Could lead to 31 years behind bars

By Lauren Mylo The Herald

MERCER — James M. Kopan, accused of molesting boys at his former Coolspring Township bowling alley, pleaded guilty Tuesday to five counts of corruption of minors that could lead up to 31 years in prison.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Thomas R. Dobson set sentencing for April 27.

Three of the corruption of minors charges were felonies and two were misdemeanors. Two of the misdemeanor charges were consolidated and one of the felony charges was.

Twelve other counts were dropped as part of the plea deal struck between Assistant District Attorney Brian Farrone and Kopan’s attorney James Goodwin, including disseminating explicit sexual material to minors, unlawful contact with minors-open lewdness, unlawful contact with minors-obscene and other sexual materials and performances, and open lewdness.

“I think it (the corruption of minors charges) covered most precisely the conduct that was involved,” Farrone said of the plea deal.

Kopan pleaded no contest, meaning he did not admit any wrongdoing. No contest pleas are treated as guilty pleas at sentencing in Pennsylvania courts.

The sentence could be as light as probation or as heavy as 31 years in prison.

Kopan was accused of molesting young boys during overnight stays at his former bowling alley, Tornado Alley, at 541 Perry Highway, Coolspring Township. It’s now called the Mercer Bowling Center and is advertised as under new management.

Kopan is free on bond.

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