Man enters indecent assault plea

HOLLIDAYSBURG - A Williamsburg-area man will be on probation for two years after entering a no-contest plea to indecent assault and simple assault charges.

Joseph Andrew White, 35, 5701 Piney Creek Road, entered the no-contest plea on July 12 at the Blair County Courthouse instead of going through the jury selection process. By pleading no contest, he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that evidence exists for a conviction.

Sentencing information on the case became available Thursday in the county prothonotary's office.

State police at Hollidaysburg filed the charges against White after interviewing a Huntingdon County woman who on May 5, 2009, reported the assault to state police at Huntingdon.

The woman told troopers that she was visiting some people in Williamsburg on May 5, 2009, when she was asked if she and her boyfriend would stop at White's residence and retrieve a basket of clothing. The woman said she called White and he said that would be OK, police said.

The woman went into White's residence while her boyfriend stayed in the car, police said. Once inside the residence, the woman said White pushed her onto a chair, then demanded oral sex.

The woman said she started screaming, then began kicking and hitting White. The boyfriend, hearing her scream, ran into the house, prompting White to stop and begin apologizing, state police stated in court documents.

White's plea was offered with no input from the woman. The district attorney's office said it had no response after sending a letter to her.

In exchange for the plea, rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent exposure were dropped.

As part of the plea and the sentencing, White agreed to be evaluated by psychologist William Allenbaugh, director of Project Point of Light, and follow his recommendations. His probation will be supervised by the Blair County Adult Parole and Probation Department.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.