LOGAN — A 21-year-old former Wellsville man has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a teenage girl seven years ago. Juan C. Schallenberger was booked into the Cache County Jail Monday afternoon, where he was being held on $100,000 bail.
Schallenberger made his initial appearance in 1st District Court Tuesday morning. He was arraigned on four counts of sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony; and one count of voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor.
According to a released affidavit, the victim, who is now 17-years-old, told investigators how she was molested by the suspect multiple times when she was younger. She described how the first time, the suspect touched her inappropriately while the two were in the back seat of a vehicle. Later, he allegedly molested her other times at her home and in her backyard. On one occasion, she also described catching him, looking in her window while she was changing clothes.
The victim confronted Schallenberger during that time. He claimed he was trying to find a stray pet. He later moved to Illinois.
After interviewing the victim, Cache County Sheriff’s detectives contacted police in Mahomet, Illinois. They questioned Schallenberger, who later admitted to each of the allegations.
During Tuesday’s court appearance, defense attorneys asked for Schallenberger to be released pending the trial, so he could return to Illinois and keep his job. Cache County deputy attorney Jacob Gordon said he was okay with the suspect’s release, as long as he does not attempt to contact the alleged victim.
Judge Brian Cannell allowed Schallenberger to be released but ordered him to have no contact with the teenage girl. He also ordered him to appear again in court July 23.
Schallenberger could face up to 15-years in prison if convicted.