MOUNTVILLE, Pa. — A Lancaster County man will serve up to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage victim while she was unconscious, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Darnell Lathon, 26, of Mountville, was charged in 2022 after DNA evidence implicated him as the suspect, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.
Lathon, who was 21 at the time, sexually assaulted the 17-year-old victim while she slept in her room in November 2019. The victim testified at trial that she was inebriated after attending a party in Lancaster earlier in the evening. She said she vaguely remembered waking up to be sick several times throughout the night, and at one point noticed a man exiting her bedroom through a door that led outside, prosecutors said.
The next morning, the victim noticed her pants were ripped and went to Lancaster General Hospital for a SAFE examination, during which DNA evidence was collected.
The DNA later determined Lathon was the suspect, prosecutors said.
The victim said she knew Lathon, and that he was aware of how to get into her house.
Lathon initially denied having any sexual contact with the victim, claiming he was with a friend on the night in question.
He was convicted in December 2023 of aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault of an unconscious person, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and two counts of indecent assault.
Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle sentenced him to a prison term of 3 ½ to 10 years in prison at a hearing on Tuesday.
Lathon must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life with the Pennsylvania State Police through Megan’s Law.
“I tried to think of a way to describe to you the impact this has had on the victim, but I found myself limited by language,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo said to Sponaugle during the proceeding. “This is more than the offenses themselves. When the defendant entered the victim’s home and bedroom in the middle of the night, he took away her sanctuary and peace.”
Collo asked for a sentence 5 to 10 years, saying the defendant has shown no remorse, according to the DA's Office.
“I keep hearing mistake being thrown around,” Collo said. “It was not a mistake; it was a choice.”
Defense counsel asked for a sentence of 2 ½ to 5 years.
“This was a depraved act and premeditated,” Sponaugle said. “He knew the victim was inebriated to the point where she could not consent.”
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Amos Glick filed charges, testified, and attended the sentencing hearing.
