A judge ruled that a Strasburg man serving a 10-to-25-year state prison sentence for repeatedly raping and sexually assaulting a young girl for years can be deemed a Sexually Violent Predator.

Judge Merrill Spahn handed down the ruling to Brent Matthew Groff, of the first block of Denlinger Avenue, following a hearing on the matter on May 18. 

Though Groff must already register as a sex offender for life after he pleaded guilty last October to 15 felony and misdemeanor charges including rape of a child, this month’s hearing was to determine if he has a mental abnormality or personality disorder making him likely to re-offend upon release.

Being designated a Sexually Violent Predator means Groff faces lifetime Megan’s Law registration and mandatory counseling for the rest of his life. 

Groff, 27, raped and sexually assaulted the victim multiple times and at multiple locations between about 2015 until around October 2023.

The victim told police Groff began assaulting her at a Pequea Township residence they shared in the 100 block of Charleston when she was about 8 years old. Groff would have been about 16 years old when the assaults began.

Groff at first denied the victim’s allegations when he spoke to investigators, but later called police to admit that many of the victim’s claims were true. 

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo prosecuted the case. Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick represented the Commonwealth during the hearing. 

Pequea Township Police Sgt. Robert Burger filed the charges.