A Manheim man was sentenced to 79-158 years in prison after pleading guilty to 22 sexual abuse charges involving victims less than 10 years old.

Anthony Fox, 25 of the 3000 block of Sensei Drive, was sentenced by Lancaster County Judge Dennis E. Reinaker on June 24 for raping and sexually abusing four victims in multiple locations in Lancaster County between July and December 2021.

The charges included four counts of rape of a child, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, four counts of unlawful contact with a minor, one count of aggravated indecent assault with a person less than 13 years old, two counts of incest of a minor, one count of possession of child pornography, four counts of corruption of minors, one count of criminal use of a communication facility, one count of indecent exposure, and one count of indecent assault of a person less than 13 years old.

The defendant abused four victims ranging in age from 6 to 10 and recorded the abuse on video and photographs.

Assistant District Attorney Amy Muller prosecuted the case and outlined the facts in detail before Judge Reinaker at the sentencing proceeding.

“Of the 2,833 [child pornography] files [Fox] possessed, he created 539 of them,” Muller said. “The only way a child will be safe around the defendant is if he remains in prison for the rest of his life.”

Muller outlined that the sentencing guidelines regarding the crimes on just one of the victims called for 65-130 years in prison; she asked for a sentence of at least 75-150 years.

Fox’s defense counsel argued that his defendant was heavily using drugs at the time of the crimes and did not remember committing them; counsel also mentioned the defendant’s own history of abuse and trauma. Defense asked for a 25–75-year sentence.

“He has been committing crimes for approximately 8 years,” Muller said. “For 8 years in the system, he had a chance to get the help he needed. Now he’s trying to use it as a mitigating factor.”

The defendant spoke shortly when given the opportunity to do so, again mentioning his own personal troubles and the fact that he has accepted responsibility by deciding not to take the case to trial.

Judge Reinaker agreed with the prosecution, stating “I don’t think there’s any worse factual scenario that I’ve seen in 18 years as judge.”

Reinaker went on to say a trial would’ve been an “exercise in futility” since most of the crimes were on video.

Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Maxwell Andres and Trooper Brian Kundick filed charges.

The United States Department of Homeland Security assisted in the investigation.

YWCA Lancaster runs a 24-hour sexual assault hotline, 717-392-7273, that connects callers to free, confidential counseling and therapy services for community members impacted by sexual abuse, harassment, or assault.

Lancaster County's designated rape crisis center at the YWCA Lancaster provides no cost counseling and therapy for survivors and significant others impacted by sexual abuse, harassment, or assault. Contact 717-869-5009 or wehearyou@ywcalancaster.org for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://crimewatch.net/us/pa/lancaster/da/11617/post/lititz-man-convicted-sexually-abusing-two-victims-2008-2011

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.