Repeated Teen Sex Assault Lands Downingtown Man In Prison

WEST CHESTER, PA —A 43-year-old Downingtown man was sentenced to 16 to 32 years in state prison for sexually abusing a child when she was 15 and 16 years old.

Jason Lawhun pleaded guilty before Judge Alita Rovito in the Chester County Justice Center to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, and unlawful contact with a minor.

The sentence handed down last week was based on a plea agreement between Assistant District Attorney Christine Abatemarco and Lawhun’s attorney, Meredith Daniels Copeland.

Investigators said the victim reported the abuse to a school official in September 2021.

She told investigators that the sexual abuse started when she was 11 and living in another state and continued in Downingtown, according to police.

Co-defendant, Elskamin Lawhun, 49, of St. Mary’s, Ga., is free on bail and awaiting trial for endangering the welfare of a child for her failure to help the victim once she was told about the abuse.

“We hope this lengthy sentence brings a sense of justice to the victim here for all the horrors she suffered at the hands of Jason Lawhun,” District Attorney Deb Ryan said.

Ryan said it took remarkable courage for the victim to tell an adult at school about what was being done to her.

In 2014, a Pennsylvania law was enacted to require educators to report suspected child abuse to county children and youth agencies.

“That heroic act saved her from having to endure more sexual abuse,” Ryan said in a prepared statement.

According to Downingtown police and Chester County detectives:

• The defendant sexually assaulted the victim multiple times, and sent the victim nude photos of himself.
• He forced the victim to create nude images and videos for him.
• The victim reported that she told Elskamin Lawhun about the abuse, but nothing was done to stop it.

Call Childline if you suspect child abuse: 1-800-932-0313.

Learn to recognize, react, and respond to child sexual abuse by signing up for a free virtual Stewards of Children workshop. Contact Chester County Coordinator Katie Walters at kwalters@chesco.org or 610-344-6115.