Vandergrift man convicted in sexual assaults of 2 children

A Westmoreland County jury deliberated more than five hours before returning guilty verdicts against a Vandergrift man for the sexual assaults of two children.

Following a three-day trial that ended Wednesday night, Timothy Robert Johnson, 38, was found guilty of nine felony counts including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, conspiracy, indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of minors in connection with sexual assaults of an 8-year-old child. Police said the assaults took place over a six-year period that started in 2015.

In a second case, Johnson was convicted of three counts including indecent assault and child endangerment based on allegations he molested a 13-year-old child in September 2021 on a boat at the River Forest Yacht Club on River Road.

In that case, jurors acquitted Johnson of nine other offenses, including the two most serious charges he faced.

According to court records, police said the younger of the child accusers claimed Johnson sexually assaulted her multiple times. She also said Johnson offered her money to remain silent about the assaults.

Police said Johnson sexually assaulted a boy as he slept on a boat during a fishing trip.

Investigators said Johnson’s DNA was found on his accuser’s body.

Johnson will remain in jail pending a sentencing hearing that will be held in about three months before Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio.