Georgia man given state prison term on corruption of minors count

A Georgia resident was recently sentenced to a state prison term on a charge of corruption of minors for which he previously entered a guilty plea.

Joseph John Kulp Jr., 70, of Griffin, was sentenced by President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II to serve three to 24 months in a state correctional institution followed by two years of state probation.

Kulp was charged by Palmerton police for an incident involving a young girl at a borough residence.

Police charged Kulp on March 24, 2017, after they received a report that the victim’s mother observed Kulp on top of her daughter, then 12 years old, on a bed in an upstairs bedroom. Kulp’s pants were down and the girl’s skirt was pulled up, the police report indicated. The report also indicated Kulp performed oral sex on the girl, but he denied that claim.

Kulp admitted to inappropriate contact with the girl.

In exchange for the plea, the district attorney’s office dropped two counts of indecent assault and one count of indecent exposure.

In addition to the prison term, Kulp was ordered to get a mental health evaluation and follow any recommendation for treatment, undergo a sexual offenders evaluation, have no contact with the victim, pay court costs of about $1,000 and pay restitution to the victim’s support unit of $1,000.

Kulp, who has been in the county prison on the charges, was given credit for 85 days already served.