District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announces a man who pleaded guilty in a 2025 Slatington rape and false imprisonment case will serve a state prison sentence.

Tristan Zawick, 23, of Whitehall Township, pleaded guilty in February to charges of rape, conspiracy to commit rape, false imprisonment, strangulation and conspiracy to false imprisonment.

At a hearing May 28 before Judge James Anthony, Zawick was sentenced to serve 10 to 20 years in state prison with 5 years of consecutive probation upon his release.

He will have to register the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

Also charged in the case is Jacquan Tanasse, 20, of Catasauqua.

Tanasse is scheduled to be sentenced at a hearing to determine whether he is a Sexually-Violent Predator at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 26 before Judge Anthony.

Just before 7 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2025, Slatington Police were called to a home in the 200 block of Walnut Street.

A 17-year-old female told police Tanasse and Zawick had raped her in the basement of the home.

The victim told police the two men physically restrained her, wrapped a cord around her wrists and stuffed a shirt in her mouth to silence her.

Both men raped the victim.

She also told police that during the assault, Tanasse choked her.

Police said the victim had injuries consistent with being restrained and choked after the attack and rape.

This case was investigated by Lehigh County District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit Detective Thomas Galloway and Slatington Police.

The cases were prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.