Sexual assailant sentenced to up to 120 years in prison
An Amwell Township man Tuesday was called a “monster” and told that he didn’t deserve to live by one of two girls whom he was convicted of raping repeatedly over a period of several years.
The girls were both under the age of 10 when Joseph Daniel Scott, 36, of 12 Terri Lane, began sexually assaulting them. The girls are now 14 and 17.
The younger girl spoke just moments before Scott was sentenced to 60 to 120 years in prison by Washington County Judge John DiSalle.
Scott was convicted by a jury Sept. 21 on charges of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, child endangerment, indecent assault and corruption of minors.
The charges of rape and involuntary deviate sexual assault carried mandatory sentences of 10 years in prison which could have been run concurrently or consecutively. DiSalle chose to sentence Scott to consecutive sentences on the charges.
Scott stood crying as the girl told him that he made her feel “useless and dirty.”
However, DiSalle said he didn’t believe Scott was crying from remorse. Instead, he was crying for himself, the judge said.
Although Scott declined comment before the court at the recommendation of his attorney, he did blurt out, “I don’t know why this is happening. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Prior to sentencing, Scott was evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which determined that he was not a sexually violent predator under Megan’s Law. He will, however, still be required to registered his whereabouts with police for the remainder of his life should he be paroled from prison.
The older victim did not attend the hearing as she now lives out of state.