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Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 35–70 Years After Repeated Child Sexual Abuse

Dalton Rodney Lewis, 22, was sentenced on Oct. 23 to 35–70 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of rape and six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Prosecutors say the abuse began when the victim was about 6 and continued for years; she reported the assaults in January 2024. Lewis admitted the abuse to investigators. The assistant district attorney urged a lengthy term, while the defense pointed to Lewis' young age at the time of some offenses.

06:13 AM, 11/28/2025Society
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 35–70 Years After Repeated Child Sexual Abuse

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced on Oct. 23 to 35 to 70 years in state prison after admitting to years of sexual abuse against a child, officials said.

Dalton Rodney Lewis, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, among other charges, according to a release from the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors say the abuse began when the victim was about 6 years old and occurred repeatedly at Lewis' home. In January 2024, the then-15-year-old reported the abuse to police. Authorities arrested Lewis after he admitted to investigators that he had sexually abused the girl.

Prosecutors and victim describe harm

Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick told the court that Lewis treated the child like a "sex toy" for nearly a decade and urged the judge to impose a lengthy prison term. The lengthy sentence reflects prosecutors' view of the prolonged and severe nature of the offenses.

The victim addressed the court, describing how the traumatic memories affect her daily life: 'I don't know what I did to deserve having him do that.' She added that she hopes Lewis receives help while incarcerated and that he never harms another person.

Defense and apology

Lewis' attorney acknowledged the gravity of the crimes, calling them "every parent's worst nightmare," but argued that the defendant's relatively young age when some of the assaults occurred should be considered in sentencing. According to prosecutors, Lewis apologized in court to the victim, her family and the court, and said he hopes she "lives a good life from here on out."

The case underscores the long-term harm caused by child sexual abuse and the legal consequences for offenders. The Lancaster County sentence will keep Lewis in prison for decades under the terms imposed by the judge.

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