Tennessee man pleads guilty to indecent assault of 3 North Huntingdon children
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A Tennessee man will serve 10 years on probation for the indecent assault of three young children more than four years ago in North Huntingdon.
Joseph Aaron Smith, 40, pleaded guilty Monday to three misdemeanor counts of indecent assault based on allegations that he had improper sexual contact with the children, ages 9 and 10, in September 2020.
He also was sentenced by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio to serve one year of house arrest and will have to register as a convicted sex offender for the remainder of his life.
Smith’s trial was set to begin Monday.
“The victim’s family is in agreement (with the plea) but wish more punishment was available,” Assistant District Attorney Therese Miller-Sporrer said. She said the plea deal was offered to prevent the children from having to testify.
Smith did not comment during the brief hearing.