Man who sexually abused teen placed in his care by York County given 5 to 10 years in prison
Ronald Witmer, 50, of Windsor Township, had pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors. He must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law for life.
Dylan SegelbaumA man who’s at the center of a lawsuit that alleges the York County Office of Children, Youth and Families placed a boy in his care despite him having prior convictions for sex offenses was sentenced on Monday to serve five to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing the teenager.
Ronald Witmer, 50, of Windsor Township, will have to spend five years on probation and register as a sex offender for life. He had pleaded guilty to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors for abusing the boy, 13, between Jan. 1 and April 22, 2017.
During the hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Teresa Jauregui read a victim impact statement on behalf of the teen’s mother, who sat in the courtroom.
The woman described feeling "violated to the fullest extent" that professional agencies placed her children in Witmer's care. She said her son has to be tested every six months to determine whether he’s become infected with HIV.
“My children have not been the same since they came back from the perpetrator,” said Jauregui, reading from the statement.
READ:Police nab Fawn Grove man on charges including statutory rape and recording sex with girls
The teen’s mother filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg in October. The complaint lists York County and three caseworkers — Nan Mavor, Cathy Lyman and Jacy Nemec — as defendants.
Witmer pleaded guilty in 1989 to indecent assault and corruption of minors. He was convicted of the same offenses again in 1990, according to court records.
Caseworkers knew or should have known that Witmer was a “convicted pedophile” and not a suitable foster parent, the lawsuit states.
Benjamin Andreozzi, an attorney who’s representing the teen and his mother, has said it only took him a few minutes to find Witmer’s criminal history online.
Andreozzi has described the case as “one of the most egregious oversights" that he's seen.
Mark Walters, a spokesman for York County, has said the county does not comment on pending litigation.
RELATED:U.S. Marshals Service nab Texas sexual assault suspect in York
Story continues below the photo gallery:
Later, Chief Public Defender Bruce Blocher, Witmer’s attorney, said he did not have anything to add.
“Mr. Witmer, is there anything you want to say regarding sentencing?” Common Pleas Judge Maria Musti Cook asked before she imposed the punishment outlined in the plea agreement.
“No, your honor,” he replied.
Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.