PITTSBURGH — A former Allegheny County Jail guard was sentenced Wednesday to 6 to 20 months in jail after previously pleading guilty to having sexual contact with two female inmates in 2015.
Joshua Reber, 35, had worked as a guard at the jail since 2007. He was accused of trading sex for special privileges for the inmates, both of whom gave impact statements in court on Wednesday.
The inmates asked the judge to punish Reber for his actions, which, according to a witness account detailed in a criminal complaint, included once telling one of the women that she had “better be naked in her cell” the next morning.
Meanwhile in the courtroom, Reber’s wife and other family members spoke about Reber being a good father to his three children. Reber’s attorney pointed out that he had never before been in trouble with the law.
The judge ultimately decided upon the 6- to 20-month jail sentence, which will be served at his former place of employment, along with two years of probation. Reber has 30 days to appeal the sentence.
Reber is also facing civil lawsuits and, having served in the military, could be dishonorably discharged.
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