NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- A 76-year-old man who strongly denies trying to lure teenage girls into his car reached a plea agreement Wednesday, based on evidence that he has Alzheimer's disease.
"Hell no!"
James Izatt Jr. told Channel 4 Action News last month, when he was asked if the allegations were true. "Get them in my car? What am I going to do with three high school girls in my car?"
Details of Izatt's plea have not been released yet. Izatt declined to comment on Wednesday.
Ill or not, North Huntingdon police said they believe Izatt was attempting to lure the girls. But Izatt's lawyer said the man was just being friendly.
"Obviously Alzheimer's interferes with a person's ability to control a situation, and their understanding, I think that had a great deal to do with how the events played out," said defense attorney David Caruthers.
When asked if he thought Izatt was trying to lure the kids, Caruthers replied, "Absolutely not."
In October, police said that Izatt had approached two girls as they were walking home from a bus stop on Michael Drive on Aug. 31.
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Watch Amber Nicotra's ReportAt that time, police told Channel 4 Action News that Izatt asked the girls to "come here for a second" and said, "I want you to pet my dog."
"He kept pulling up beside them on the wrong side of the road," Sgt. Jeffrey Bouldin said on Oct. 14. "He says, 'Would you reach into the car,' more or less, to pet my dog."
The girls told their parents what happened when they got home, and the parents called police.
"What, say what?" a shocked Izatt said after he got the charges by summons in the mail. He added, "I'm not guilty. Period. That's all I can tell them."
Izatt adamantly denied the case against him when he spoke with Channel 4 Action News on Oct. 14.
"I said, 'Hi, bet you're glad school started, huh?' They said, 'Yeah,' and I said, 'Look at this,' and I put my puppy up at the window, and that's all," Izatt said.
Bouldin said the girls identified Izatt through mug shots. In 2006, he was charged with aggravated assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years probation.
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