Virginia Man Convicted of Assaulting 2 Young Girls in Lancaster 20 Years Ago

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A jury has convicted a 45-year-old Virginia man, Jacob Lee Smyth, of assaulting two young girls at two different homes in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania more than 20 years ago. One victim, now 30, testified Smyth assaulted her at a home on Little Britain Church Road when she was 8-12 years old. A second victim, now 26, said Smyth came home drunk and assaulted her while she slept on the floor at a home on Scheller Road when she was around 12-13 years old.

Why it matters

This case highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of survivors coming forward, even decades later, to seek justice. It also raises questions about how predators can evade detection for so long and the need for stronger measures to protect children from such crimes.

The details

Smyth was convicted by a Lancaster County jury of assaulting the two young girls at two separate homes in the county beginning in 2004. One victim, now 30 years old, testified that Smyth assaulted her at a home on Little Britain Church Road when she was between 8 and 12 years old. A second victim, now 26, told the jury that Smyth came home drunk in the middle of the night and assaulted her while she slept on the floor at a home on Scheller Road in Providence Township when she was around 12 or 13 years old.

• The assaults began in 2004.
• One victim was between 8 and 12 years old at the time of the assaults.
• The other victim was around 12 or 13 years old at the time of the assaults.

What’s next

Smyth will be sentenced at a later date. The judge will determine an appropriate sentence based on the severity of the crimes and Smyth's criminal history.