Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi issued statements on two sentencings from Monday.
One was for 39-year-old Gregory Jones of Blairsville, who was ordered to serve 10 years in state prison and three years of probation upon his release for charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. He pleaded guilty in March to all five counts connected with sexual assaults that happened between 2017 and 2020. The victim came forward in August of 2023 and said the assaults happened while Jones was engaged to the victim’s mother. Police said Jones waited until the mother was asleep before he went to the victim’s room to have sexual relations with the victim. It was also discovered that the two exchanged sexually explicit images of each other.
Manzi said the victim was “incredibly brave” to come forward and face Jones and he hopes the outcome will help start the healing process as they move forward in a positive way.
The other was for 28-year-old Amber Jones of Indiana, who will serve up two-and-a-half to five years in state prison for a charge of aggravated assault of a minor. The charge was filed after a child received treatment at Indiana Regional Medical Center and Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh and doctors found indicators of additional injuries, leading to an investigation by Indiana Borough Police officers. They said Jones attempted to cause serious bodily injury to the child as a result of her stated frustrations with their crying.
Manzi said “no matter how stressed or overwhelmed a parent becomes, there are absolutely no reasons to try to hurt your children.” He also thanked Indiana Borough Police officers for their efforts in the investigation and for bringing Jones forward to “account for her actions.”
