Ronald H. Tobias Jr. is headed to state prison after admitting Thursday in Schuylkill County Court that he sexually abused a preteen girl in June 2014 at his city apartment.
Tobias, 39, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to three sex-related crimes, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. Prosecutors withdrew charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault.
President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted Tobias’ plea and immediately sentenced him to serve seven to 14 years in a state correctional institution. Baldwin also sentenced Tobias to pay costs and have no contact with his victim.
Baldwin also ordered the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to evaluate Tobias to help determine whether he is a sexually violent predator. That ruling, which Baldwin will make at a later date, will affect the Megan’s Law sanctions that will be imposed on Tobias after he leaves prison.
Tobias said little during Thursday’s hearing, during which he wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs, except that he understood the details and consequences of his plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.
Pottsville police charged Tobias with assaulting the 10-year-old girl between June 1, 2014, and June 30, 2014, when she was visiting him at 306 W. Market St. Apt. 1.
The incident came to light when the girl told a counselor that she had been sexually abused, police said.
Police said that when they interviewed Tobias, he said he had indecent contact with the girl, corroborated details of the incident that would have been known only to the victim and the perpetrator, and admitted telling her not to tell anyone else what had occurred.
Defendant: Ronald H. Tobias Jr.
Age: 39
Residence: Pottsville
Crimes committed: Three sex-related crimes, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors
Prison sentence: Seven to 14 years in a state correctional institution.