Waynesboro man pleads guilty in sexual assault case

October 15, 2008

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- A Waynesboro, Pa., man scheduled to be tried on charges he sexually assaulted a girl on New Year's Day has pleaded guilty to felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor, according to his attorney.

Clayton D. Tavenner, 33, of 3426 Scar Hill Road, was charged with raping a 12-year-old girl on New Year's Day. He also was charged by Waynesboro police with statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated indecent assault of a child, according to court records.

Tavenner's trial was set to begin Wednesday, but Assistant Public Defender Scott Thomas said he entered the guilty pleas last week before Judge Carol Van Horn. Tavenner will have to undergo an assessment by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board before being sentenced in about 90 days, Thomas said.

As part of the agreement, Tavenner will serve a state prison sentence of nine to 18 years, Thomas said.

Police said Tavenner was at a New Year's Eve party in the 400 block of South Potomac Street. The girl's mother became ill and fell asleep on a couch and the girl went upstairs and slept in her mother's bed, police said.

The girl told police Tavenner fell asleep in the bed, but later awoke and sexually assaulted her. After the assault, the girl took a telephone into the bathroom and called 911.

Tavenner told police he had no recollection of the incident, the affidavit of probable cause stated. However, Tavenner's DNA matched that of samples taken from the girl when she was examined at a hospital.

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