Pa. Choir Founder Pleads Guilty to Several Counts

The founder of a northeastern Pennsylvania boys choir has pleaded guilty to several charges of sexual assault and child pornography that date back to 1996.

Seventy-four-year-old Kenneth Bernard Schade of Wind Gap entered the plea Monday in Monroe County to statutory sexual assault and two counts of possession of child pornography.

Other charges including rape and aggravated indecent assault were withdrawn as part of a plea agreement.

Schade, founder of the Singing Boys Choir of Pennsylvania, was accused of having assaulted a teenage boy who came forward earlier this year.

Authorities alleged that investigators later discovered more than 1,000 child pornography images stuffed into two suitcases in his East Stroudsburg home.

Schade's attorney told WNEP-TV that his client could face a maximum of 12 to 24 years in prison.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us