Israeli citizen pleads guilty in 2004 sexual assault of girl in Dormont
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A 54-year-old Israeli citizen, who was accused of raping a teenage girl 15 years ago and fled to Israel until being extradited back to Pittsburgh in February, pleaded guilty Monday to four sex crimes before an Allegheny County judge.
Moshe Journo lived in Beechview at the time the charges were filed.
Journo pleaded guilty to sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. Judge Mark Tranquilli set sentencing for March 16.
Journo is accused of attacking the 15-year-old girl in September 2004 in a room used for tanning at his Dormont business. He commented on the girl’s tan and then offered her use of a tanning bed adjacent to his then-business, Mo Wear, on Potomac Avenue, police said.
The girl visited the business with another friend who was not assaulted. The girls told their parents about the assault. The parents contacted Dormont police.
Journo fled to Israel before an October 2004 preliminary hearing could be held. He was extradited from Israel in February and has been in Allegheny County Jail awaiting trial.