Muncy man faces sex charges involving minors

Eric Stephen Eck, 51, of 108 N. Washington St., Muncy, has been locked up on more than two dozen charges, accusing him of molesting and engaging in sexual acts with two teenage girls, both minors at the time, county Detective Loretta Badger alleged in court papers filed at the office of District Judge Kirsten Garder. One victim was assaulted on various occasions between early this year while the second victim, now an adult, was allegedly molested by Eck beginning in 2021, Badger was told.

The second victim stated that Eck first exposed himself to her and then he began having inappropriate contact with her, Badger alleged, adding that when the female was asked how often this took place, the victim replied “It happened a lot. It was when I was 15 to 18,” it was stated in an affidavit.

When confronted about the victims’ allegations, “Eck admitted that the statements made by the two were true,” Badger said. He stated “I just (expletive), I really wanted to help these kids, and I (expletive),” according to the investigator. The alleged sexual acts occurred in Muncy, Badger said.

Eck has been charged with eight felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts each of indecent exposure, aggravated indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children, three counts each of indecent assault and corrupting the morals of a minor plus six counts of unlawful contact with a minor. Following his recent arraignment, he was jailed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Loyalsock Township jailed after allegedly assaulting troopers

After first locking herself in a bedroom, Samantha Jo Vroman came out and dashed to a bathroom, where she again briefly locked the door before coming out with a metal curtain rod in her hand, according to state police who were called to her Loyalsock Township home at 2950 Heshbon Road about 11:15 p.m. Thursday. She began moving aggressively toward one of three troopers, who ordered her to drop the rod, but she allegedly refused, forcing a second trooper to use his taser. Law enforcement and an ambulance were sent to the home because the 30-year-old woman was threatening to harm herself and was “out of control,” it was stated in an affidavit.

Even after the trooper deployed his taser, Vroman continued to resist as troopers handcuffed her, took her and tried to restrain her to a stretcher, police said. She kicked one trooper on his side, bit another on his left arm and kicked an emergency medical technician on the left side of his face, it was alleged in the court document.

Vroman was eventually taken into custody and arraigned three hours later before Gardner on three counts each of felony aggravated assault and simple assault as well as one count each of resisting arrest, harassment, possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia, which she had in her possession, police said. During the proceedings, Vroman used profanities at the judge and state troopers. She was jailed in lieu of $35,000 bail.

Muncy area man waives hearing on charges for high-speed pursuit

Motorist Warren Wayman Swank III, 28. of 709 Musser Lane, Muncy, remains locked up on charges stemming from a high-speed pursuit with borough police on March 19 in which he traveled at speeds greater than 85 mph, according to court records filed at Gardner’s office. The pursuit began after Swank, driving a 2014 Dodge pickup truck, ran two stop signs in the borough before fleeing west on Penn Street and continuing on Musser Lane while an officer pursued him with his cruiser’s emergency lights and siren activated. The officer terminated his involvement in the pursuit after losing sight of the truck. Police eventually were able to obtain the truck’s registration and talk to the owner, who told them that on the night of the pursuit, his sister, Breeann Burkholder, had the vehicle and that perhaps her boyfriend, Swank, was driving the vehicle at the time of the pursuit. Police allege that Swank was the driver.

He has since been charged with felony fleeing police and three summary offenses, including recklessly driving. He has waived his preliminary hearing and is jailed in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Burkholder, 25, of Hughesville, has already been charged with hindering apprehension and prosecution for allegedly interfering with law enforcement in nabbing Swank first at her home on March 20 and again during yet a second pursuit, this one in Columbia County, on April 3, according to court records. Swank was eventually taken into custody and arrested.