Joseph Lesniak earned his Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Villanova University in 2000. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 2003. After law school, Mr. Lesniak served in the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office for over nine years, spending a majority of that time in the Special Victims Domestic Violence Division prosecuting hundreds of sexual assault, child abuse, and domestic violence cases. While in that division, he served as Chief and lead prosecutor of the Pennsylvania Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC), under a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Taskforce investigated and prosecuted internet exploitation and child pornography cases. Mr. Lesniak helped create and teach policies and techniques used across the Commonwealth, leading to many successful prosecutions of child exploiters at both state and federal levels.
While in the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Lesniak was responsible for creating and presenting numerous community outreach programs on topics including Protection From Abuse Orders, Internet Safety, Prosecuting Kidnapping and Computer-Based Crimes, Bullying, Cyber-bullying, School Safety, and Custody Issues. He has presented both locally and nationally for organisations such as the National District Attorneys Association, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse.
Mr. Lesniak also served as the Nether Providence Township Solicitor for over two years, where he drafted ordinances, represented the township in complex zoning matters, and developed policy frameworks. He was instrumental in drafting a comprehensive Civil Service Ordinance bringing the township into compliance with state mandates while ensuring a fair process for selecting police officers.
Mr. Lesniak is an adjunct professor of Political Science at Pennsylvania State University, has served as chairman of the Delaware County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board, and has served on the Board of the Delaware County Bar Association. He has also served as President of the Guy G. deFuria Inn of Court and was named its Person of the Year in 2022.
