Former Wichita Theatre employee admits sexual assault

Josiah Derbyshire will sit in the 89th District Court for his plea hearing on July 1, 2024.

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) – After a postponement on Friday, June 28, a former Wichita Theatre employee accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl at the theater has made his deal official today, July 1, 2024.

Josiah Derbyshire, 32, chose a probation deal rather than face trial for sexual abuse of a child.

Derbyshire’s agreement provides for a suspended sentence of five years, after which no criminal conviction will be recorded.

He must also register as a sex offender for life and have no contact with children. His lawyer’s request to grant him an exception to allow him to see his six-year-old son could be considered later when he undergoes a professional risk assessment.

Derbyshire’s charges came after police received a tip from Crime Stoppers about a sexual assault at the theater in July 2018. When the 15-year-old girl was taken to Patsy’s House, she told police Derbyshire texted her and asked her to meet him at the theater to talk.

According to police, there is a video that shows Derbyshire and the victim walking up the stairs to the balcony after she got there. She said he told her about his marital problems, then grabbed her, sexually assaulted her and told her not to tell anyone.