Man charged in sexual assault of child released

Keith Sterling McFarland, charged Oct. 25 with rape of a child, indecent assault on a person less than 13, indecent exposure and corruption of minors, has been released from Schuylkill County Prison.

District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer had set bail at $50,000 straight; McFarland’s motion for reduction of bail to $50,000 unsecured was granted Dec. 28.

McFarland had been held in Schuylkill County Prison since his arrest until the bail reduction hearing Dec. 28. The offenses allegedly occurred when the victim and her family lived with McFarland on Greenwood Street, Tamaqua, from August 2013 to January 2015.

According to the affidavit filed by arresting officer Thomas Rodgers of the Tamaqua Police Department, an 8-year-old girl reported the assault to her grandmother.

McFarland must obey the standard conditions of bail as well as the following special conditions: reside at 190 Gun Club Road, Palmerton, and must not relocate without prior permission from the court; must not possess or consume alcohol or illegal substances and stay away from establishments that serve primarily alcohol; have no contact with the victim and victim’s family; continue with employment; and shall not travel outside of Pennsylvania without written permission from the District Attorney.