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	Summit Man Faces Five Years for Molestation By Kerri Jordan Go Lackawanna October 31, 2010 http://www.timesleader.com/golackawanna/news/Summit_man_faces_five_years_for_molestation_10-31-2010.html CLARKS SUMMIT – A Clarks Summit man who was previously a leader of a church youth group pleaded guilty to unlawful contact with and corruption of a minor. Joshua Warren Landis, 36, will face up to five years at a state correctional institute, according to Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records Annie Brokus. Landis received consecutive sentences Oct. 27 from Lackawanna County Judge Michael J. Barrasse. He will face 12 to 36 months at a state prison on the count of unlawful contact with minors, a third degree felony, and nine to 24 months for corruption of a minor, a misdemeanor, according to Brokus. Landis was represented by Attorney Paul Walker, of Scranton. Following his release, Landis will be required to complete four years of special probation, during which he is prohibited contact with minors. He was arrested Feb. 23 on charges that he assaulted a teenage boy under his care. After informing police of the alleged abuse, the boy was 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. Go Lackawanna does not name victims of sexual abuse. 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 abuse occurred in early October 2009, when Landis was alone with the boy at Landis' home on Highland Avenue, according to a police 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. At the time of Landis' arrest, Gene Talerico, first assistant district attorney for Lackawanna County, said 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. After Landis' arrest, 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.
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