Vandergrift, PA -- Westmoreland County Detectives charged a Leechburg man who allegedly had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a minor for years. 

Westmoreland County Detectives initiated an investigation after being contacted by the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau in May of 2026. 

The children's bureau had concerns about an individual, Joseph Hesketh, 34, who was interested in fostering a 9-year-old girl. 

Through the course of the investigation, the children's bureau learned the victim, who was 13 at the time, had a sexual relationship with Hesketh from the age of 13 until she was approximately 20 years old. 

In May of 2026, detectives interviewed the victim, who is currently 24 years old. 

The victim told investigators she resided in Vandergrift as a child and met Hesketh when she was approximately 8 or 9 years old. 

Hesketh was a close family friend of the victim's and eventually adopted her. 

The victim told police Hesketh was a partner of a dance studio in Vandergrift and would drive the victim to and from dance practices. 

She relayed to detectives that she also attended a church in Vandergrift where Hesketh's brother was a pastor. 

The victim believed the first inappropriate conduct with Hesketh was when she was approximately 13 or 14 years old and occurred in an office of the church while no one was there. 

The victim relayed to police that the sexual encounters continued on multiple occasions for nearly seven years both at the church and at the dance studio where Hesketh maintained a bedroom. 

Hesketh is facing charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person less than 16. 

Hesketh was arraigned and released on $250,000 unsecured bail. 

Disclaimer: To the extent that pending criminal matters are discussed, all such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.