Sherman D. Graham

Shaw identified the defendant as 45 year old Sherman D. Graham, of 366 McCool Road, Frenchville, Clearfield County.

A criminal complaint filed by Trooper Dave Patrick of the Pennsylvania State Police, Woodland Barracks, charged Graham with Rape of a Child, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child, Burglary, Flight to Avoid Apprehension, and related charges.

An affidavit of probable cause filed by Trp. Patrick provides that on July 29, 2008, State Police responded to a camp along McCool Road in Frenchville were the victim’s mother reported that her 4 year old daughter had been sexually molested by Graham. When confronted by the camp’s owner, Graham fled into a wooded area. Upon arrival at the scene, State Troopers immediately started a search to locate Graham.

While fleeing from police, Graham broke into several camps, as well as LC Jordan’s Deli and Mini Mart where he removed canned goods and similar food items. Graham then stole a Chevy S-10 truck which he used to flee the area.

Graham then drove the Chevy S-10 to Buffalo NY where he contacted an former girlfriend. Graham then traveled in the Chevy S-10 to Ohio. While on the Ohio Turnpike, Graham pulled into a toll booth and attempted to exit the Turnpike. Graham failed to pay the appropriate toll charges and when directed by Turnpike officials to pull over and wait for the Ohio State Police, Graham again fled the area. Ultimately, Graham was apprehended by the Kansas State Police who stopped Graham for a traffic violation on Interstate 70.

Following Graham’s arrest in Kansas, Shaw stated that he began extradition proceedings to have Graham returned to Pennsylvania. Shaw reported that he obtained a Governor’s Warrant from Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell and was able to extradite Graham from the State of Kansas. Graham was returned to Pennsylvania and housed in the Clearfield County jail in January 2009.

On April 22, 2009, Graham appeared in court tendering a guilty plea to the charges. Pursuant to the guilty plea, Graham was to receive a minimum period of fifteen years incarceration with the maximum period to be decided by the judge. Additionally, Graham agreed to be classified as a sexually violent predator for purposes of Megan’s Law and agreed to waive his right to an assessment hearing wherein the Commonwealth would be required to establish that Graham met the statutory requirements of a sexually violent predator.

After Graham tendered his guilty plea, President Judge Fredric Ammerman sentenced Graham to a minimum of fifteen years and a maximum of sixty years in state prison. Ammerman further declared that Graham would be classified as a sexually violent predator.

Following the imposition of sentence, Shaw stated that he was satisfied with the outcome. Shaw noted that the sentence sends a strong message to others that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Clearfield County. Shaw reported that the sentence imposed is "in essence a life sentence". Shaw anticipates that Graham "will spend the rest of his life in prison."

Shaw complimented the fine work of Trooper Dave Patrick and the Pennsylvania State Police. Shaw stated that "this case establishes that law enforcement will work vigorously to investigate these types of crimes and bring child molesters to justice. Shaw said that "Tpr. Patrick did an outstanding job investigating this case. Tpr. Patrick obtained the evidence needed to successfully prosecute these types of crimes and the sentence imposed reflects Tpr. Patrick’s hard work and dedication."

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