A Pennsylvania teen asked for well wishes after a Philipsburg judge sentenced him to up to 10 years in prison for the rape of a mentally disabled child.
On Thursday, Centre County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jonathan D. Grine sentenced 18-year-old David Heck to spend at least five to ten years in a state correctional facility for rape. Heck pleaded guilty to raping a child after taking a plea deal, which dropped several other charges, Central Daily Times reports.
Initially he faced four additional charges, including two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person who has a mental disability, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of someone less than 13 years old.
Investigators said two witnesses were taking a walk in the woods in October 2020, when they spotted Heck, completely naked, with a young boy. When they looked closer, the witnesses saw Heck “masturbating over” the child.
Heck quickly jumped on bike when confronted and fled the scene, prosecutors said, but the witnesses contacted police and followed him, NBC 6 reports.
The witnesses also helped the victim, who was “visibly upset and crying,” an arrest warrant stated.
The victim’s mother told police that Heck had arrived at her home earlier on the day in question and asked if the victim could “come play,” claiming they were friends. The victim later told a counselor that Heck forcibly subjected him to unwanted oral sex and threatened to hurt him if he told anyone.
“Wish me luck,” Heck said after Grine asked him if he had anything to say, following sentencing.
Heck has been at the Centre County Correctional Facility since his arrest, but will be transferred to a state detention center to serve his sentence.
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[Feature Photo: Police Handout]
