HARRISBURG, PA. (WHTM) – Attorneys for Artur Samarin, the 23-year-old Ukrainian man accused of masquerading as a Harrisburg High School student, say he will plead not guilty.
Attorneys Adam Klein and Clarke Madden were hired over the weekend to represent Samarin. They would not tell us who was paying for their services.
They say they have met with the 23-year-old several times, and that he will plead not guilty to all charges, including a count of statutory sexual assault. Police allege Samarin had sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 22.
“Making a judgement about him at this point is premature,” Madden said.
Samarin told ABC27 the idea to change his name came from his adoptive parents, Michael and Stephayne Potts. They have not been charged in the ongoing investigation.
Samarin’s attorneys plan to file a motion to reduce his bail so that he can be released from Dauphin County Prison.
“Some people are going to say did he come here with malintent, did he come here to do evil deeds, and I don’t see that,” Klein said.
