AJ News

By Gerard Hetman ghetman@timesleader.com
Reporter / Photographer

A Clarks Summit resident and former leader of a church youth group was arrested Tuesday, Feb. 23, on charges that he assaulted a teenage boy under his care, according to an affidavit.

click image to enlarge

Joshua Warren Landis

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

Joshua Warren Landis, of 302 Highland Avenue in Clarks Summit, was taken into custody by Lackawanna County law enforcement officials on charges of indecent assault and criminal attempt to commit involuntary deviant sexual intercourse. The 36-year- old was apprehended by representatives from the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s office, who also searched the home and property and seized several items believed to have been given to the boy as gifts in order to encourage him to cooperate with the alleged misconduct committed by Landis.

According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Lackawanna County Court, Landis allegedly befriended the boy while serving as a youth group leader at Parker Hill Community Church, and continued to keep in contact with the boy after leaving the youth group leadership position. The alleged incident of abuse occurred in early October of 2009, when Landis was alone with the boy at Landis’ home on Highland Avenue. According to the affidavit, Landis was allegedly in close physical contact with the boy under the guise of “wrestling” when he grabbed the boy’s shorts in an inappropriate manner. When the boy resisted the contact, Landis allegedly touched the boy inappropriately again, this time placing his mouth to the boy’s shorts.

After informing police of the alleged abuse, the boy was then recorded by detectives while talking to Landis, in a conversation in which Landis admitted that his conduct toward the boy was inappropriate and in which he apologized for his actions.

According to Gene Talerico, First Assistant District Attorney for Lackawanna County, the type of behavior allegedly displayed by Landis is characteristic of that used by “seduction type child molesters.” While in contact with the victim, Landis allegedly “groomed” the boy by buying him gifts, including an iPhone, laptop computer, clothing, X-box games and an All-Terrain Vehicle. Landis also allowed the victim to drive his BMW and Toyota, and took the victim on trips to out-of-town attractions on multiple occasions.

“In a situation such as this, the “grooming” behavior speaks to the offenders building a level of trust between themselves and the victim,” Talerico said of the pattern of behavior. “That is where you see the level of trust built up with things like the gift giving that was committed here.”

When reached for comment regarding Landis’ affiliation with the church, Parker Hill Community Church Business Manager Tom Gattorna confirmed that Landis was a volunteer worker in the church’s student ministries program from November 2008 to July 2009. He also confirmed that Landis was asked to leave his role that allowed him to be involved with the youth group at Parker Hill Community Church.

“In July of 2009, Josh was asked by the church to leave that role as a volunteer with students because his leadership style had become incompatible with the established leadership standard set by Parker Hill,” Gattorna said of Landis’ involvement with the church. “Obviously we are very concerned with the nature of the charges. Our hearts and prayers go out for the victim and his family and we have been assisting them in any way we can.”

Landis currently remains free after posting $25,000 bail. His next court appearance has yet to be scheduled after a hearing set for Tuesday, March 2, was postponed. While no other victims have yet come forward in the case, Talerico encourages anyone who may have been affected by such actions to contact the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office at 570.963.6717.