Oct 29, 2014 3 min read

A Canton Township man accused of trying to lure three children, ages 4, 8 and 10, into his vehicle in August was ordered to stand trial after one of the alleged victims identified him during his preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Jerry Ray Zgorliski, 56, of 260 Ellis Ave., was ordered held for court on three counts each of kidnapping, unlawful restraint, luring of a child into a vehicle and interference with the custody of children as well as one count of driving under suspension, in the Aug. 10 incident.

The 10-year-old girl testified she was in the backyard of her father’s home playing tag with her sister and brother when a man in a black truck pulled up. She said she knew him because he would stop by the house and ask for metal, but said she did not know his name.

The girl said he asked her to help him find his dog and that he would give her a piece of candy.

“I said no,” she said. “He came out of his truck and tried to grab me. I grabbed my sister and brother and started running to the house. I told my dad some man tried to grab us.”

When Assistant District Attorney Josh Carroll asked her if the man was in the courtroom, she pointed at Zgorliski.

Defense attorney Komron Maknoon asked the girl if the man had any other distinguishing features, and she responded he had a tattoo on his arm.

“Did you just look at him before you answered?” Maknoon asked her of his client, who wore a short-sleeved prison jumpsuit.

“No,” the girl answered.

Trooper Chad Weaver said the girl’s father said the children were approached by a man they knew as Jerry. He told the trooper the man asked the children to help find his dog and offered them candy. Weaver learned the suspect was in a black Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck with a diamond-plated tool box.

After getting a general idea of where the suspect might live, Weaver and Cpl. Timothy Selden canvassed the area. When he asked some people if they knew a “Jerry” who drives a black truck, they were directed to the area of his home. They found the truck next to a house trailer. The hood of the truck was still warm.

Zgorliski was taken into custody, put into the cruiser and driven back to the house where the children were staying.

“They identified him,” Weaver said. “The 10-year-old was visibly upset and shaking. She was afraid to look at him.”

Maknoon asked Mark to consider reducing his client’s $1 million bond.

“Bond is not supposed to be punitive, it is not to be excessive,” Maknoon told Mark, adding Zgorliski is diabetic and having difficulty with his medication while he has been incarcerated at Washington County jail.

Carroll asked the judge to consider the safety of the children, who visit at a home only a few blocks from where Zgorliski was living. Carroll also told Mark that Zgorliski has a criminal history, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse charges that were withdrawn in 1994. He also had charges of simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment withdrawn in 1995 in exchange for a plea to criminal mischief.

Mark said he was concerned with Zgorliski’s criminal history, and suggested Maknoon request a bail hearing before a Washington County judge.

Zgorliski, if he is released from jail, is to have no contact with the children.