CONNELLSVILLE, Pa.,None — Falcon Stadium in Connellsville was packed with fans on Friday night for a high school football game. Among the fans, police said, was 45-year-old Anthony French, who is a convicted Megan's Law offender.
Police said French approached a group of young boys who were playing in a grassy area. Investigators said French asked the boys if he could join them and then tackled and groped a 12-year-old boy.
Connellsville police said French lives on Austin Avenue, which sits behind the stadium. According to court records, French pleaded guilty in 2004 to unlawful contact with a minor.
Records show French served five years of probation.
Police Chief James Capitos said the terms of French's probation allowed him access to the school's stadium.
"He wasn't in violation of Megan's Law just because he was at a high school football game," Capitos said.
Upset neighbors said they're not surprised that French is accused of assaulting another child.
"He was going to football games, which prevented my children who are students to go because I didn't feel comfortable," said one neighbor. "They're not permitted to live so many feet from a school. How should they be allowed to be at a school function?"
When police said they went to French's house to arrest him on an indecent assault charge, investigators said what they found was disturbing.
Police said they found emaciated dogs, birds, reptiles and rats living in filth. Dozen of the animals were taken from the home, which police said was unfit for humans and animals.
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