Photo Credits: Forbes
Jacob Malone, 37, a youth pastor who was jailed for raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl, has now been charged with hiring a hitman to kill the judge who sentenced him as well as the leader of his church. He was sentenced to more than three years in prison for sexually assaulting the teen girl and after that he allegedly offered $5,000 to his cellmate to kill pastor who reported him to the police. “The defendant also told the inmate that he would be willing to offer additional money for the murder of Judge [Jacqueline] Cody, who presided over the sexual assault case,” the DA’s release alleges. He was charged on February 24th, according to the district attorney.
This inmate contacted the Chester County District Attorney’s Office in July 2019, regarding this accusation. Chester County Detectives conducted an immediate investigation; including interviewing the inmate that the defendant solicited to commit murder. After concluding that Chester County had no jurisdiction over this matter which occurred in Somerset County, PA, our assigned detective promptly referred it to the Pennsylvania State Police in Somerset on August 12th, 2019.
District Attorney Deb Ryan stated, “The District Attorney’s Office is deeply concerned about these extremely serious allegations. Most importantly, we can confirm that the victims involved in this case are safe. We are committed to assisting the Pennsylvania State Police and the Somerset County District Attorney’s Office in their investigation.”
After giving birth to Malone’s child in January 2016, the girl told the police that he took advantage of her “mentally, physically, spiritually.” She also said the “godly man” proved himself “something else when no one was watching.”
Malone pleaded guilty in April 2017, expecting a plea-deal sentence of two to four years, the paper said.
But Judge Cody surprised him at sentencing, rejecting the lighter sentence and hitting him with three to six years, because the victim wanted him to serve more time for what the judge called his “inexcusable” crimes. In addition, Cody ordered Malone to register as a sex offender through 2032.
