SMETHPORT – A Jamestown, N.Y., man was sentenced Thursday in
McKean County Court to time served for assaulting a child in the
toy section of the Bradford Wal-Mart last year.
Jeffery Bloom, 41, was sentenced to nine to 23 1/2 months, given
credit for 435 days of time served and sentenced to five years
probation on charges of simple assault, indecent exposure, indecent
assault, open lewdness and corruption of minors.
As soon as Bloom completes his required DNA testing for the
Pennsylvania State Police database and data bank, he can be
released from incarceration.
“Your Honor,” District Attorney John Pavlock began, addressing
Judge John Yoder, “you have a very tough job here today, one that I
do not envy.”
He explained that Bloom has been found by the court to be a
sexually violent predator; however, the sentencing guidelines for
the crimes he committed do not permit a longer term of
incarceration.
Explaining what Bloom had done, Pavlock said, “For the purpose
of sexually gratifying himself, while holding a toy frog, the
defendant exposed himself” to a 10-year-old girl in the toy section
of Wal-Mart. Bloom also touched the child’s breast.
“He totally violated the sense of security this family had,”
Pavlock said. He asked for a long term of supervision, saying “it
appears others around (Bloom) may not grasp that lack of control”
that caused Bloom to assault the child.
Bloom’s attorney, Robert Liebers, said Bloom suffers from mental
illness and the assault was linked to a combination of
medication.
“I made a mistake,” Bloom said to Yoder. “I’m deeply sorry. I
wasn’t using my sound mind when I did that.”
Yoder explained the factors he considered when fashioning
Bloom’s sentence, and added that he agreed with Pavlock about being
bound by sentencing guidelines.
“The guidelines sentence crimes, not criminals,” Yoder said. He
also explained he considered the impact on the victim and her
family, “which I’m sure has been devastating.”
He added that Bloom has a case pending in New York state as
well, and that he suffers from the “paraphelia of
exhibitionism.”
Yoder explained that Bloom’s crimes fall under the purview of
Megan’s Law, and he will be subject to lifelong registration of his
address with law enforcement.
As a sexually violent predator, there are other conditions to
which he must abide as well.
Yoder explained the following: Bloom cannot loiter with minors
or be in any place where minors may frequent, such as a school,
playground or game room; cannot form romantic relationships with
adults who have children; cannot participate in activities with
children under 18; cannot reside with a child under the age of 18;
cannot visit where minors are present without permission of his
parole officer; cannot view or possess child pornography; cannot
own or view X-rated, NC-17 or adult-rated videos, photos, books or
magazines; cannot use a computer for pornographic viewing; and must
attend sex offender classes.
Bloom was also ordered to have no contact with the victim or her
family and cannot be on the premises of Wal-Mart in Bradford.
