(WBRE/WYOU) LUZERNE COUNTY – The father of a man accused of molesting a young boy at a kids summer camp in 2010 insists his son is innocent.
The I-Team was first to tell you about the arrest of 25-year-old Zachary Lee, a former summer camp counselor in the Hazleton Area. Investigators say Lee is guilty and they will prove it in court.
The camp where Lee allegedly assaulted the young boy was held at the Drums Elementary Middle School near Hazleton. A camp worker told police she saw lee molesting the boy inside a bathroom stall. Investigators tell eyewitness News they did not find out about the case until 2015 when someone called Pennsylvania’s child abuse hotline.
The suspect’s father, Nathan Lee, says that he believes his son is innocent. “if you know my kid you know what kind of kid he is. A lot of people know him no about it” Lee says.
Lee believes his son was intimidated into admitting the crime. “Without saying anything against police and they have a job to do and I understand that. I just think he was scared into saying what they wanted to say…signing a statement. The whole time trying not to tell his father he was in some sort of trouble” Lee says.
The lead investigator in the case, Officer George Keifer, says this is just pure nonsense. “Well his son was very clear and understanding of everything that we spoke to him about” Keifer says.
Lee waived his charges to Luzerne County court for trial. These charges include corruption of minors, indecent assault and sex offenses with a child. He faces at least 20 years if convicted. District Judge Dan O’Donnell maintained bail at $25,000.
