Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania — A Pittsburgh-area man has been accused of sexually assaulting two children in an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual abuse by members of Jehovah's Witnesses congregations in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Timothy Willochell, 54, of Westmoreland County is charged with numerous counts of aggravated indecent assault, nvoluntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, and related offenses.
Willochell was arraigned Wednesday with bail set at $170,000. He is to have no contact with minors. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 21.
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Willochell is the 17th member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses charged by the attorney general's office of assaulting children since 2022.
“This defendant preyed on two children, waiting for opportunities to assault them when they were alone and at their most vulnerable,” Sunday said in a statement.
“I commend the victims for their bravery in coming forward, and applaud grand jurors who continue to diligently hear testimony as part of a comprehensive investigation of criminal conduct involving members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community.”
The alleged incidents occurred between 1989 and 1997.
The first victim testified before the grand jury that they would visit Willochell and his family in Westmoreland County around holidays. The abuse started when the victim was five in 1989 and lasted until 1992. Willochell followed the victim into the bathroom and sexually assaulted the child at least four separate times. The last assault happened outside Willochell’s home.
The second victim stated that they were sexually assaulted by Willochell twice under the age of 10, during a summer between 1993 and 1997. Thealleged assaults occurred at a Westmoreland County campsite.
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