Greg Lunde, chairman of the ambulance company’s board of directors, said the board moved swiftly on Shields’ status after Pennsylvania State Police conducted a search at the service’s 233 Mill Street station.
Because the girl was 15 at the time the alleged acts started in 2021, she is considered too young by state law to be capable of giving consent to have sex.It was not immediately clear Tuesday why the police investigation, which was launched last May, only resulted in charges now, and case investigators were not able to be reached for comment.
In its statement, put out under Lunde’s name, the company noted all of Yellow Breeches employees and volunteers are subject to state and federal criminal history checks, and receive background checks for any history of child abuse before they are permitted to serve.“We have faith in the integrity of the legal process and reiterate that Mr. Shields, like all criminal defendants, is innocent until proven guilty.