HARRISBURG, Pa. – A Pennsylvania court has sentenced an Allegheny County man to 12 to 30 years in state prison following his guilty plea to multiple serious charges stemming from the sexual abuse of two children. The crimes occurred between 2004 and 2006, revealing a prolonged period of abuse that has only recently been addressed by the judiciary.
Marc Brown, 67, faced justice on Thursday at the Allegheny County Court, where he admitted to felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, and endangering the welfare of children, among other misdemeanors. Brown’s confession brings a long overdue closure to a disturbing chapter for the victims and their families.
The Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Dave Sunday, highlighted the case as a testament to the resilience of the legal system and the courage of the victims who came forward. Brown was formerly a member of a local Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation, a detail that emerged during investigations by the state’s 49th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. The grand jury’s proceedings unveiled the extent of Brown’s interactions with the children, who he knew personally, committing numerous assaults over several years.
Jurors learned through heart-wrenching testimonies that Brown engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior. This included groping the children, invading their privacy during showers, and entering their bedroom at night to carry out his assaults.
These disturbing revelations came as part of a broader investigation into child abuse within certain religious communities, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, by Pennsylvania’s statewide grand jury. This body has been pivotal in unearthing hidden abuses and bringing perpetrators to account irrespective of their social or religious affiliations.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Alicia Werner, who worked diligently to secure a conviction and a significant prison term for Brown, emphasizing society’s imperative to protect its most vulnerable.
In his remarks on the sentencing, Attorney General Sunday reiterated that such severe penalties are justified in cases involving repeated harm to children, stating that this serves both as a punishment and a deterrent to similar crimes.
The resolution of this case marks a significant victory for child protection advocates and underscores the importance of persistent legal efforts in the face of attempts to conceal such egregious offenses.
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