Feb 1, 2008 3 min read

WASHINGTON – A Waynesburg man who had previously pleaded guilty to charges stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted two teenage girls was sentenced last week in Washington County Court to serve time in prison. Justin Larry Bedilion, 25, was sentenced by Washington County Judge Paul Pozonsky to serve three to six years in a state prison and four years of state-mandated probation during his sentencing hearing on Jan. 24.

The court also ruled that Bedilion was found to be a sexually violent predator under Pennsylvania Megan’s Law.

The ruling means that Bedilion will be required to register his whereabouts and report to authorities for the rest of his life.

Bedilion pleaded guilty in June before Pozonsky to one count each of aggravated indecent assault and statutory sexual assault, two counts of corruption of minors and four counts of selling or furnishing alcohol to minors.

He was arrested in December 2006 on charges that he engaged in sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl in August in his car that was parked at a lot in North Strabane Township. He also was charged with providing alcohol to the 13-year-old, as well as to a 15-year-old girl who also was in the car.

He also was charged with engaging in sex acts with the 15-year-old girl in February 2006 at her home in Canonsburg and providing alcohol to several juveniles, ages 15 to 18, on four separate occasions in July and August 2006, police said.

Bedilion was a volunteer assistant coach for the girls softball team at Canon-McMillan High School, police said. He also worked as a computer technician at the school district, but was fired after officials learned of the charges.

Bedilion was scheduled to be sentenced in October, pending completion of a pre-sentence investigation, but the sentencing was rescheduled for November.

At the November hearing, prosecutors withdrew a plea offer – believed to be a 2-to-4-year sentence. Pozonsky then advised Bedilion that he could withdraw his plea of not guilty and proceed to trial, but Bedilion re-affirmed his guilty plea to the charges.

Bedilion then requested to have his bond revoked and be placed in county jail to begin whatever sentence would be imposed. Pozonsky accepted his requests and re-scheduled the pre-sentencing hearing. He also ordered him to undergo a Megan’s Law assessment hearing prior to his sentencing.

Before Bedilion was sentenced Thursday, the court heard testimony from Herbert E. Hayes, representing the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board. Hayes testified that after reviewing the facts in the case and talking with Bedilion on the telephone, he determined that Bedilion should be classified as sexually violent predator.

Bedilion’s attorney, Christopher Blackwell, presented objections to Hayes’ testimony, arguing that some of the facts in the case were false or incorrect.

Pozonsky, however, refuted Blackwell’s objections and agreed with Hayes’ determination.

Following the hearing, Blackwell said in an interview with a television news station that he did not agree with Bedilion being classified as a sexually violent predator and that he would look into challenging the ruling.