FROM THE OFFICE OF MCKEAN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEPHANIE VETTENBERG-SHAFFER:
(MCKEAN COUNTY, Pennsylvania: September 25, 2026): District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer reports that, following a jury trial at the McKean County Courthouse on September 24th, a Rew man was convicted of sexually assaulting a child. Shawn PRENTISS SR. was charged after an investigation by Smethport Borough Police Chief Kevin Seipp into allegations of sexual misconduct by PRENTISS against a juvenile female left in his care.
During the trial, the jury heard testimony that, while PRENTISS was babysitting the victim between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2018, while the child was under the age of 13-years-old, PRENTISS sexually assaulted her. The jury convicted PRENTISS of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse – victim under age 13 (Felony 1), Attempted Rape of a Child – victim under age 13 (Felony 1), and Indecent Assault of a Child (Misdemeanor 1). The Presiding Judge also found PRENTISS guilty of Harassment (a summary).
The District Attorney's Office advised that it will seek an enhanced penalty as permitted under Pennsylvania law that allows the DA’s Office to seek an enhanced penalty that is higher than the standard range established by the legislature for the crime. In this case, the enhancements as found by the jury included the child's age and the nature of PRENTISS' contact with the victim. To allow for imposition of these enhanced sentences, the jury found that the victim was under the age of 13 at the time of the offenses and that the indecent assault was committed by the touching of the sexual or intimate parts of the victim and PRENTISS.
Upon the conviction, the Judge increased the monetary amount of PRENTISS' bail on the motion of Second Deputy District Attorney Sarah Dufresne, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Commonwealth..
Due to the sexual nature of the crimes, PRENTISS is required to be evaluated by the Sexual Offenders’ Assessment Board prior to sentencing to determine if he meets the definition of “sexually violent predator”. The Board has 90 days to complete the assessment. Sentencing will be announced by subsequent order after receipt of the evaluation.
If you suspect child abuse, please call 911 and Childline at 1-800-932-0313.
