Delmont man convicted of attempted sexual assault

A Delmont man was convicted Wednesday of attempting to sexually assault a woman. Investigators say he later threatened her to prevent her from testifying against him. The attempt was unsuccessful.

A Westmoreland County jury deliberated for about an hour before returning guilty verdicts against 28-year-old Brandon Pyle in connection with an incident that occurred on November 24, 2022.

During the one-day trial, prosecutors alleged that Pyle attempted to sexually assault the woman and then threatened to withhold money she needed for herself and her newborn child if she cooperated with authorities, prosecutors said.

Pyle could face up to 20 years in prison for attempted sexual assault and simple assault.

The jury found Pyle not guilty of intimidating victims in connection with the threats.

Pyle’s accuser testified that she and Pyle were together the night of the attack and told jurors that she was upset when she saw and confronted him that his cellphone had a link to a pornographic website for male prostitutes.

She said Pyle became agitated and tried twice to force her to perform sexual acts before stopping the attack.

A month later, prosecutors said the woman failed to appear at two scheduled preliminary hearings against Pyle.

“I was scared and felt like my life was in danger,” she testified. “He said he didn’t want to go back to prison and tried to bribe me to go shopping with me.”

Defense attorney Ken Noga told jurors that the case against Pyle was based on a bizarre situation.

“Just because she was upset doesn’t mean it was an attempted sexual assault,” Noga told the jury. “What happened was not criminal in nature. An argument does not make a crime.”

However, Assistant District Attorney Mike Pacek countered that Pyle admitted to the attempted sexual assault and said the evidence justified a conviction for the crimes he was charged with.

Pyle was free on bail until December of last year, when he was charged by Greensburg police with burglary and threatening another woman. The case is still pending.

Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger said Pyle will remain in prison until his sentencing later this year.