MILLERSVILLE, Pa.– According to the Lancaster District Attorney Craig Stedman, Leon Tadych will continue to serve up to 24 years in prison after an appeals court denied his claim that video evidence used in the case was illegal. The 51-year-old man pleaded guilty in 2013 to felony sex abuse of a 14-year-old girl.
Police captured the video of the crimes inside the Tadych home with permission from Tadych’s wife. Stedman said it was one of the only times such a police tactic has been used.
On appeal, Tadych argued his attorney gave him bad advice, and that he should’ve challenged the video rather than agree to a negotiated plea. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the appeal. They said the attorney gave reasonable advice, and the Lancaster County President Judge’s denial of the appeal was appropriate.
Tadych attorney told him in 2013, the video evidence could be booted from the trial, but Tadych could still be convicted based on the victim’s testimony.
According to Stedman, the courts also ruled Tadych made his guilty plea fully aware of his trial rights and the consequences.