Former Blair County Prison Guard Charged With Multiple Crimes

On Feb. 9, 2024, after a weeks-long investigation, Blair County District Attorney’s Office detectives filed eight counts of Statutory Sexual Assault; one count of Intimidation of a Witness; two counts of Tampering with Evidence; one count of Interference with Custody of a Child; one count of Unlawful Contact with a Child; and two counts of Corruption of Minors against John David Mollica for cultivating a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old child.

After the 14-year-old victim disclosed her abuse, Blair County detectives began an investigation that included multiple interviews, the execution of search warrants, and both physical and digital evidence collection.

The victim reported that Mollica — who was a Blair County corrections officer at the time of the relationship—had developed a sexual relationship with her for several months that was chronicled in text messages between the two.

In those messages, the defendant details his obsession with her; professes his love; arranges to meet her; discusses his meth abuse; and even a pregnancy concern.

The victim indicated that Mollica warned her to delete their texts, which she did.

However, detectives were able to recover those messages on her phone using forensic software.

She also reported that Mollica also pledged to furnish her with vapes, money and a new iPhone if she kept silent about his sex abuse.

When detectives interviewed Mollica, in contrast to the digital evidence uncovered during the investigation, he denied any relationship with the victim, claiming he only met her one or two times and that he believed she was actually 11 years old.

“There is no such thing in this Commonwealth as a ‘consenting sexual relationship’ between an adult and a child. Adults who like to have sex with children do not get to do so even if they convince the child they’re in ‘love’,” First Assistant District Attorney Nichole Smith said.

“When someone perverts a child into believing she is in a ‘consensual’ adult relationship, we will enforce the law that makes clear such manipulation is a crime,” Smith said.

She said the DA’s office will not be deterred from that responsibility because of anyone’s position, employment, rank, or status.

“We do not care where you work or who you serve: our children will receive the full force of our protection from those who would harm them,” Smith said.

Officers from Hollidaysburg Borough Police Department; Roaring Spring Police Department; North Woodbury Police Department; the Pennsylvania State Police; and the Altoona Police Department assisted the Blair County District Attorney’s detectives with both the investigation and the apprehension of Mollica.

Mollica’s bail was set at $100,000 today by Magisterial District Justice Andrew Blattenberger. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 22, 2024.