A Schuylkill County man has been jailed and charged with violating Megan’s Law requirements and corruption of a minor after police say he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a juvenile girl and failed to register his accurate housing and vehicle information.
Police in Ashland launched an investigation after receiving a report of suspicious activity involving a male on the Megan’s Law registry – identified as Andrew Bakerofskie, 35, of Ashland – and juvenile girls. Family members of a juvenile told police they discovered the girl was spending time with Bakerofskie, a convicted sex offender. The family members informed police that Bakerofskie was living at a residence on W. Centre St. in the borough.
Police records indicated Bakerofskie was registered at a Vine St. address as of April 3. However, when police visited the Vine St. home to verify his residency, the homeowner said Bakerofskie only stays there “on and off.” The homeowner told police he also stays with another woman at a Brock St. address.
State police confirmed to Ashland Police that Bakerofskie was in violation of his registry requirements, which mandate that he report all permanent or temporary housing arrangements. Police say Bakerofskie also failed to register a red Harley-Davidson motorcycle he’d been operating.
On April 30, the juvenile’s parents brought her to the police station for an interview. The juvenile told police she met Bakerofskie at a birthday party on March 8 and confirmed he had been living with a woman on Brock St. since the beginning of that month.
The juvenile told police Bakerofskie showed up at her workplace on April 7. Following that brief interaction, she said Bakerofskie added her on Facebook, leading them to spend time together and communicate further.
According to the juvenile, she was with Bakerofskie on April 28, when he grabbed, rubbed, and squeezed her buttocks at least three times. She told police he claimed to be 27 years old and said he was “extremely frustrated” because he wanted to rip her clothing off.
The juvenile provided police with her phone, which contained multiple text and Facebook messages from Bakerofskie. Police logged the following messages sent by Bakerofskie on April 12, 14, and 16.
Bakerofskie was arrested this afternoon and taken before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli. Tarantelli set bail at $100,000 and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.
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