After three days of trial, a Dauphin County jury re-convicted Richard Soto, 39, of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a child, and corruption of minors. This is the second time a Dauphin County jury convicted the defendant of the same charges. The defendant was first convicted in 2015.  Judge Richard A. Lewis sentenced the defendant to 20-40 years in prison. At the end of 2019, the Pennsylvania Superior Court remanded the case for a new trial after asserting the defendant’s prior counsel was ineffective for failing to call character witnesses on his behalf.  Character witnesses testified for the defendant in the retrial.

The victim was between 5-8 years old during the time of the recurring sexual abuse. The defendant had moved into the home and was dating the victim’s mother. When the victim first told her mother of the abuse, her mother assaulted the victim and told her not to repeat the accusations. Her mother later pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. Law enforcement became aware of the abuse when the victim, as an eight-year-old, created a drawing in school before disclosing the abuse to her guidance counselor.

For the third time in her life, the victim testified in front of her abuser. She described, in detail, the various ways the defendant sexually assaulted her over the course of three years. According to Deputy District Attorney Erin Varley, who prosecuted the retrial, “the victim is the bravest, sweetest young lady. After the first conviction, she never thought she would have to face the defendant again. However, when she learned she needed to re-testify, she faced the challenge with an unmatched level of maturity and strength. I am proud to know her, and thankful to all of the officers, current and former DAs, teachers, counselors, CYS workers, doctors, and forensic interviewers that helped her then, and came back to fight for her once again.”

Detective Mark Hovan (retired) from the Middletown Borough Police Department investigated the case.  The defendant’s sentencing and hearing to determine if he should be classified as a sexually violent predator is currently scheduled for February 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Lewis.