Charges withdrawn against West Deer man accused of inappropriately touching young girl

Criminal charges have been withdrawn against a West Deer man who police accused of inappropriately touching a girl several years ago.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office withdrew five charges, including aggravated incident assault of a child, that were filed against Scott Goedicke, 46, in May, according to online court records. The charges weren’t filed until May because of coronavirus-related restrictions, police Chief Jon Lape previously told the Tribune-Review.

The charges were withdrawn Aug. 19 before Magisterial District Judge Tom Swan in West Deer. Goedicke’s public defender George Lawrence Saba declined to comment.

Reached by phone Thursday, Goedicke said the process has been long and rough, but he is happy that he doesn’t have to go to jail for something he said he didn’t do.

“It was barbaric … This is something that a monster does,” Goedicke said. “It’s psychotic that somebody would think that about me.”

Goedicke denied the charges brought against him, and said the alleged victim told the truth at the preliminary hearing.

“Nothing ever happened,” he said. “It was just one big nightmare.”

Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, said that evidentiary issues made it impossible for the prosecution to sustain its burden of proof. Manko would not elaborate on what those issues were. West Deer police Sgt. Darren J. Mikus, who filed the charges, could not immediately be reached for comment.

The alleged victim reported the incident to Mikus in February, after her therapist made a report to ChildLine. She was 12 at the time of the police report.

Goedicke said, “If somebody’s guilty and somebody did do something then I understand. But if somebody didn’t do anything, and being through everything like I have, I deserve the public to know that this guy didn’t do (anything). I just don’t want my name being smeared.”