A Mountville man was sentenced to 3 ½ to 10 years in prison Tuesday for sexually assaulting an unconscious victim in her home in November 2019 after DNA evidence implicated him as the suspect.

Darnell Lathon, 26 of the 100 block of E. Hoover Street, was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle after a jury convicted the defendant during a December trial of aggravated indecent assault without consent, aggravated indecent assault of an unconscious person, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, and two counts of indecent assault.

Lathon must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life with the Pennsylvania State Police through Megan’s Law.

“I tried to think of a way to describe to you the impact this has had on the victim, but I found myself limited by language,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo said to Judge Sponaugle during the proceeding. “This is more than the offenses themselves. When the defendant entered the victim’s home and bedroom in the middle of the night, he took away her sanctuary and peace.”

Lathon, who was 21 at the time, sexually assaulted the victim after the two had discussed hanging out after the victim went to a party and Lathon to a bar.

The victim, who was 17 at the time, testified at trial to attending a party in Lancaster city and having little recollection of leaving the party or her friends giving her a ride back to her home as she was in an inebriated state.

The victim vaguely remembered vomiting several times throughout the night while in her bed and at one point noticed a male exit her bedroom through a door that leads to the outside.

The victim and Lathon knew each other, and the defendant knew how to get inside the house.

The next morning the victim realized her pants were ripped and went to Lancaster General Hospital for a SAFE examination. DNA evidence was collected, which confirmed Lathon as the suspect.

ADA Collo asked for 5 to 10 years saying the defendant has shown no remorse.

“I keep hearing mistake being thrown around,” Collo said. “It was not a mistake; it was a choice.”

Defense counsel asked for 2 ½ to 5 years.

“This was a depraved act and premeditated,” Judge Sponaugle said. “He knew the victim was inebriated to the point where she could not consent.”

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Amos Glick filed charges, testified, and attended the sentencing hearing.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.