State trooper pleads not guilty to charges of indecent exposure, open lewdness

GREENSBURG — A state police officer pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent exposure Tuesday, but a judge ruled enough evidence existed to send the case to trial.

Trooper Eric Zona was charged after a woman claimed he exposed himself to her at the Greensburg barracks in October. The trooper has been suspended without pay since the alleged incident occurred.

Zona was in court Tuesday, and his defense attorney said his client’s life has been flipped upside down ever since the allegations of indecent exposure and open lewdness surfaced.

"It's an example of an allegation being made and somebody's life grinding to a rather traumatic halt,” said Dick Galloway.

The 19-year police veteran is accused of exposing himself several times to the victim inside a state police merchandise story. %

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Channel 11 reporter Melanie Gillespie was in court for the preliminary hearing and heard that there were discrepancies in the alleged victim’s testimony compared to the original criminal complaint.

Those discrepancies mostly dealt with detailed locations of the alleged crime and when it happened.

The victim told police Zona allegedly offered her a discount at the store if she accepted his sexual advances. The victim is also an employee of the state police.

The judge ruled enough evidence existed to send the case to trial, and Zona will be back in court soon for a formal arraignment.

Cox Media Group