Convicted sex offender sentenced to prison
Despite pleas for leniency from convicted sex offender Vincent M. Pahula Sr., Fayette County Judge Ralph C. Warman sentenced the Masontown man Monday to nine to 20 years in prison for abusing a teen over a five-year period. Warman also deemed Pahula, 50, a sexually violent predator based on an opinion from Dr. Allan D. Pass of the state’s Sexual Offenders Assessment Board. Pass testified at an earlier hearing that Pahula had a criminal history that included arson and assault and was twice investigated in the past for alleged sexual abuse.
That designation means Pahula is subject to a lifetime of community notification, counseling and address registration with police. Failure to comply with those conditions could result in a lifetime of probation or life in prison, said Warman.
During a statement before he was sentenced, Pahula said he felt convicted before his trial started because of his prior record and newspaper accounts of his crimes.
He also said that the victim, now 16, made up the allegations against him because she disliked him. Pahula questioned why, if he was charged abuse that occurred from 1993-1998, the teen did not come forward earlier.
“Ever since this happened, everyone has been investigating me when people should have been investigating her,” said Pahula.
The victim, who sat in the courtroom with her family, put her head on the shoulder of a supporter for comfort.
Pahula’s wife also testified in his behalf, asking God for strength to find answers to questions that her husband’s conviction has raised.
“May the Lord’s will be done. I don’t know the truth – only he does,” said Sharon Pahula, his wife of nine years.
Pahula’s friend of one year, Scott Schuessler, also testified. He told Warman that he believes Pahula found God while in prison awaiting trial for sexual assault.
“I know we all make light … of jailhouse conversions, but (Pahula) is a changed man,” said Schuessler.
He too noted that Pahula – along with God and the victim – know if jurors returned the right verdict when they convicted him of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Despite Pahula’s protests that he was innocent of the charges, Warman told him he saw things differently.
“You have many excuses you have made here today, and you have shown no remorse for your conduct,” said Warman.
“I heard the testimony. As far as I’m concerned, the commonwealth did find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,” continued the judge.
Warman also noted that he considered Pahula’s prior record, which included convictions for arson and robbery. Also included in his prior record was a conviction for assaulting the victim he sexually assaulted in this case. Pahula pleaded guilty to simple assault in that case and served six to 12 months in prison.
At his trial, he told jurors that he pleaded guilty to that matter because he was guilty. He also told the panel that he was innocent of sexual assault and that the teen made up the allegations because she was angry at him over the assault.
At the end of his sentencing, Pahula indicated to Warman that he wanted to appeal.