Former CK janitor pleads guilty in child pornography case | News, Sports, Jobs

Colpetzer

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A former Claysburg-Kimmel School District employee pleaded guilty to six counts of child pornography in exchange for a sentence of six to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of probation. All other charges were dropped as part of the agreement.

On Wednesday afternoon in Blair County Court, 31-year-old Ethan Ray Colpetzer accepted the plea deal offered to him by his attorney, Thomas Dickey, and First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith. He must register as a Level 1 sex offender under Megan's Law and is prohibited from entering any property in the Claysburg-Kimmel School District.

Colpetzer has been in prison since March 7, 2023, and the time he has already served will be credited to him.

He was also ordered to pay costs of the proceedings and fines totaling $15,000.

When given the opportunity to speak before the verdict, Colpetzer said he was “not very good with words.”

“But the only thing I can think of is that I'm sorry that people think I wanted to hurt a little child,” Colpetzer said. “That's not good.”

After the verdict, Miller approached Colpetzer, who had worked as a janitor at the elementary school, and told him his behavior was “worrying.”

“Regardless of your position in the school district, you hold a position of trust with these children,” Miller said. “With all due respect, you have failed in that position.”

Colpetzer was originally charged with 75 counts of child pornography, as well as one count each of designing/copying obscene material and enticement of a minor, after he was identified as the “secret admirer” who left gifts, candy and notes in a fifth-grader's desk in early 2023, court documents show.

During the investigation, Colpetzer allowed officers to search his phone. During the search, police saw images of underage children performing sexual acts and later discovered 74 photos of prepubescent children performing various sexual acts on themselves, other children or adults, as well as 72 images of children posing nude. Colpetzer admitted to police that he had saved the images from the internet and that some had been provided to him by various websites, the affidavit states.

Reach Mirror editor Rachel Foor at 814-946-7458.