Mt. Pleasant man convicted of sexual assault of child

A Westmoreland County jury on Tuesday convicted a Mt. Pleasant man of the repeated sexual abuse of a teen about a decade ago.

Following a brief trial that started Monday and included testimony from the alleged victim and their mother, the jury deliberated more than four hours before reaching its verdict against Joshua Jacob Tamblyn, 41, finding him guilty of five felony and two misdemeanor counts.

The jury convicted Tamblyn of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a child less than 16, four counts of indecent assault and one charge each of child endangerment and corruption of a minor.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears, at the conclusion of testimony, dismissed one felony charge of involuntary deviate intercourse against a child. The judge rule prosecutors did not prove the alleged victim was less than 13 years old when sexually assaulted.

Tamblyn had been free on a recognizance bond following his arrest two years ago.

Mears revoked his bond and ordered Tamblyn to remain in jail until he is sentenced in about three months.

Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp said Tamblyn faces a mandatory 10-year prison sentence as a result of his conviction.

Tamblyn’s victim, now a young adult, told jurors that as a child they did not understand the implications of the sexual conduct they endured and said they finally disclosed the alleged sexual assaults to another person in January 2023.

They testified they were sexually assaulted by Tamblyn between 20 to 25 times.

“I believed this was all part of normal sexual growth. I didn’t think anything of it until I looked back,” they testified.

TribLive does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

Tamblyn did not testify, and the defense did not present any witnesses.

Defense attorney Eric Dee argued Tamblyn should be found not guilty because prosecutors presented no evidence of specific dates of the sexual assaults and no corroborating evidence to support the victim’s claims.

“As far as additional evidence there is none. It is that simple,” Dee told jurors during his closing argument.

Knupp argued to jurors that the victim’s testimony, if believed, is sufficient under state law for a conviction.

“This trial matters, and the evidence is there for a conviction,” Knupp said. “Justice demands it.”