A county judge sentenced a Manheim Township man to 15 to 40 years in state prison last month after a jury founding him guilty last year of repeatedly abusing a 6-year-old girl.

Judge Merrill Spahn handed down the sentence George Cooke, 65, on Jan. 20.

A Lancaster County jury convicted Cooke in September of repeatedly sexually abusing the victim in the bedroom of his residence in the 1500 block of Orchard Street in Manheim Township between January and June 2022

At the conclusion of the four-day trial the jury found Cooke guilty of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age and corruption of minors.

In a separate hearing held the day prior to the sentencing, Judge Spahn ruled that Cooke is a sexually violent predator.

As part of his sentence, Cooke must also register as a sex offender.

Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp prosecuted the case.

Manheim Township Police Officer Scott Dierwechter filed the charges.