A Nesquehoning man admitted in Carbon County court on Monday afternoon to exposing himself to two young children at a residence in the borough in which he was then “pistol whipped” by the victim’s father, who said he caught the defendant in the act.

Mark A. Mead, 31, pleaded to corruption of a minor, a felony 3, and a misdemeanor one count of indecent exposure. In exchange for the plea a felony 1 counts rape of a child and of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse was dropped in a plea deal with the district attorney’s office.

The victim’s father, William Morales, 43, was charged with assaulting Mead after he said he walked into a room where he saw the defendant exposing himself to the children. Morales was charged with aggravated assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, possession of a prohibitive offensive weapon, simple assault, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, a felony 2, and was sentenced to serve 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution in April by Nanovic. At the time Morales was an inmate in the Berks County prison where he was awaiting action of a state parole violation.

At the sentencing proceeding, Morales told Nanovic he was still on parole for an aggravated assault on a police officer charge when the incident occurred. He also told Nanovic, “I did what any other father would have done.”

Case history

Nesquehoning police were called to Morales’ home for an assault on Aug. 7, 2019.

Mead told police he was being held at gunpoint by Morales for two hours and that he was assaulted several times by being pistol-whipped, kicked in the stomach and violated with the handle of a mop.

Morales told police that the reason for the incident was because he had found Mead sexually assaulting his 1-year-old and 5-year-old sons while he was helping the family move.

The affidavit of probable cause states that Morales had asked Mead for his help moving and that he had left to carry out items. When he returned, Morales said he found Mead with his 1-year-old in a compromising situation and subdued Mead. The 5-year-old told his parents that Mead also made him touch him.

Police noted that Mead had multiple lumps and swelling on his head and contusions and abrasions, as well as pain in his abdomen.

Mead said Morales had provided him with illegal drugs in payment for helping him move.

Attorney Jonathan L. Luff Jr., of Philadelphia, represented Morales. He took the case, he previously said, because he could not understand why Morales was charged in the first place. Attorney David Strenfel said he and Luff took the case for free.

Greek told the court forensic evidence gathered at the scene did not support the rape of a child or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges and was the reason they were dropped in the plea deal.

Nanovic accepted the plea but deferred sentencing, stating the case falls under the provisions of Megan’s Law. Mead will have to be evaluated by the state sexual offenders assessment board. Nanovic also ordered the adult probation office prepare a presentence investigation report.