Joshua L. Leap of Effort, was sentenced to 90 months to 20 years in a state correctional facility.

This sentence was imposed by Judge Jonathan Mark after Leap was found guilty by a jury on Jan. 11, 2018 to rape by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault being more than 11 years older than victim, sexual assault; aggravated indecent assault by forcible compulsion, and indecent assault by forcible compulsion.

In July 2015 the Pennsylvania State Police - Lehighton were contacted regarding a 14-year=old whom had gone to her boyfriend’s family reunion and reported being sexually assaulted by Joshua Leap. An investigation revealed that Leap was at a family reunion which was hosted at his uncle’s house off Breezy View Lane in Stroud Township, from July 25, 2015 to July 26, 2015.

Leap and others at the reunion were drinking throughout the day and ended the night around a bonfire, where they continued to drink.

The victim, who was 14 years old, was dating one of Leap’s cousins, who was 15 years old. Tents were set up for anyone who wanted to sleep over. Sometime prior to midnight, the victim and her boyfriend retired to a tent to go to sleep. Around dusk, the victim remembered being awoken and then sexually assaulted by Leap. At the time, Leap was 28 years old and had a fiancé who was 5 months pregnant.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours returning a verdict of guilty on all counts. Leap was represented during trial by Attorney Brandon Reish. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Julieane Fry.

Leap will be transferred from Monroe County Correctional Facility to a State Correctional Facility to begin serving his sentence of incarceration. He will also need to register as sex-offender for life.