Protestors Upset by Visitation Rights

A man from Carbon County charged with abusing a seven-year-old girl wants visitation rights for another child, and that’s causing some people to protest.

People said they went to court to protest and show support for the alleged victim at the hearing.

They are also angry at another judge in a civil case connected to this one who allowed the man to visit another child who may have witnessed what happened to the seven-year-old girl.

Jay Ketch arrived at a Jim Thorpe magistrate’s office for a preliminary hearing on charges that include indecent assault and corruption of a minor.

He passed a dozen demonstrators including members of the group bikers against child abuse.

“My concern is this seven-year-old girl was sexually abused by this man,” alleged Monika Wojtynski of Jim Thorpe.

Inside the magistrate’s office, the seven-year-old girl testified Ketch made her watch pornographic movies and perform sex acts while a two-year-old boy was in the room.

Protesters are angry because last month in another courthouse Judge Steven Serfass ruled suspect Jay Ketch could have “partial supervised visitations” of that same two-year-old boy.

In that custody case, Judge Serfass designated Charles Bott to supervise the toddler’s visitation.

Bott, who is not as a social or child care worker, was in court to support Ketch, while protesters said Ketch should be kept away from all children.

“Until he’s proven not guilty he should not have visitation with either of the children. The two-and-a-half-year-old boy cannot stand up for himself or say anything,” Wojtynski added.

Ketch left the magistrate’s office after the three hour hearing that ended with him being released on $50,000 bail. He had nothing to say.

Then he got into his SUV and drove off with members of Bikers Against Child Abuse standing by.

Newswatch 16 tried without success to reach Carbon County Common Pleas Court Judge Steven Serfass to find out why he allowed Jay Ketch visitation rights to the two-year-old boy.