Morganelli says sex assault sentence not enough time

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said his office will ask a judge to reconsider a sentence that spared a Hellertown woman who repeatedly had sex with a 15-year-old boy from going to state prison.

Judge Anthony Beltrami on Friday ordered Bonnie M. Rohn to serve one to two years in county jail for statutory sexual assault. Prosecutors asked for state prison, arguing there was a risk Rohn’s conduct could be repeated and only a state correctional facility could provide the treatment she requires.

“It’s a woefully inadequate sentence under these facts,” Morganelli said Friday.

State sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of as much as two years in prison, according to prosecutors. Morganelli said Beltrami imposed a mitigated sentence for Rohn, of which she is likely to serve only a few months behind bars before she becomes eligible for work release.

Rohn’s defense attorney, Erv McLain, said that if anything, she deserves less jail time. McLain said that in his career of practicing law, Rohn stands out as someone who merits leniency.

“In 35 years, I’ve never, ever had a defendant who had as much remorse or did as much to rehabilitate herself as this woman,” McLain said.

More than 30 people wrote letters to Beltrami on behalf of Rohn, supporting her and praising the steps she has taken since her arrest to address her problems, McLain said.

“This woman will do more good in our community than she can ever do bad,” McLain said.

Morganelli said Beltrami cited Rohn’s completion of rehab, participation in Alcoholics Anonymous and membership in church as factors that warranted a shorter sentence. Morganelli said that’s not enough to support the judge’s decision.

He said Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski will ask Beltrami to reconsider. If that is unsuccessful, the district attorney’s office will file an appeal in Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Rohn, 35, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault in October. Authorities said she had sex with the boy several times from January to September 2017, when he was 15 and 16 years old.

Majewski said Friday that Rohn, a mother of four, did so even as her own children were at the home.

Police said Rohn also exchanged messages with the boy by phone and on Snapchat in which they discussed their “relationship,” and she sent him a video of herself in the shower.

Rohn will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life.

Reporter Riley Yates contributed to this report.