Saltsburg man sentenced to 40-year prison term for kidnapping, sexual assault of child

A Saltsburg man was ordered to serve up to 40 years in prison for the sexual assault of one of two young children police say he kidnapped from a New Kensington home in 2021.

Eddie Leroy Lambert Jr., 60, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of kidnapping minors, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful restraint and other offenses in connection with incidents that occurred in Westmoreland and Indiana counties nearly three years ago.

New Kensington police said Lambert received permission from the mother of the girls, ages 9 and 6, to take them for ice cream. Lambert then took the children without permission to a local store where police said he molested the older girl in the back seat of his vehicle and again at his home in Saltsburg.

According to court records, Lambert then drove the children back to New Kensington, stopped at a Sheetz store and again molested the older child before he called 911 and facilitated the children’s return home.

Police said they confronted a distraught Lambert at the Sheetz, who threatened suicide and attempted to entice responding officers to shoot him before he sped off and led authorities on a chase through parts of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

The children were left behind at the Sheetz and returned to their mother, according to court records.

Lambert has been in jail since his arrest.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears imposed terms of a negotiated plea bargain. Lambert was ordered to serve two consecutive 10- to 20-year prison terms and an additional six years on probation once he is released from incarceration.