Lancaster County man sentenced for child sex crimes
COLUMBIA, Pa. (WHTM) — A Lancaster County man has been sentenced to serve up to 12 years in prison after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager.
John Wakefield Jr., 48, was sentenced to 2-5 years for statutory sexual assault and 3-7 years on the aggravated indecent assault conviction to run consecutively.
The charges stem from months of alleged abuse from February to September of 2022. According to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office, the victim recorded the final assault using a hidden camera and provided it to an adult who called police. The recording was later presented at the trial.
“(These offenses) would’ve stayed in the dark,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller said during the sentencing. “And would’ve never come to light.”
“This is a type of crime that hurts a victim, family, and community in a way that’s hard to put into words,” Miller also said.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Wakefield Jr. and his wife both testified during the trial that the abuse was “wrestling,” as Wakefield Jr. had previously been a wrestling coach.
“The child he abused and molested did nothing wrong,” Wright said to those at the sentencing. Then to the victim, “You did nothing wrong. You were victimized by a criminal. You are a hero in my book.”
Wakefield Jr. must now register as a sex offender with the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life, in accordance with Megan’s Law.
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