SENTENCING HEARINGS HELD FOR MAN CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE, WOMAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL ABUSE

A man charged with sexual abuse of children was sentenced yesterday in Indiana County Court.

Court documents show that 24-year-old Joshua Neese was charged in connection with an incident on January 7^th of this year.  Charges of failure to provide registration information and failure to verify address or be photographed were not prosecuted.  He was ordered to serve three to ten years in state prison and following a period of parole, he will serve three years of probation.

Neese had previously pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors in 2024, and was ordered to serve up to 23 months in prison and three years of probation.  The probation was revoked as part of the sentencing yesterday.

Also sentenced yesterday was 31-year-old Palina Williams of Colver, who was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals, witness intimidation, and designing or copying obscene materials.  Police said she abandoned a dog alongside of the road on February 20^th that was found the next day with fractures in its pelvis and chicken bones in its stomach.  Authorities also said that she asked another person to abandon the dog for her and sent her nude photos in an attempt to force her to not talk to police.  She was ordered to serve up to a day less than two years in jail and four years of probation for the crimes.