UNNAMED GIRL - under 13 yo/ Convicted: Charles E. Espenshade - Hummelstown PA

Hummelstown man gets 6 to 12 years in state prison on child rape plea

By Matt Miller | mmiller@pennlive.com
on August 28, 2014 at 2:58 PM,
updated August 28, 2014 at 3:32 PM

A Hummelstown man who pleaded guilty to repeatedly molesting a girl will spend the next 6 to 12 years in state prison.

Charles E. Espenshade, 59, received that sentence, to be followed by 8 years of probation, from Dauphin County Judge Andrew H. Dowling during a hearing Thursday.

Espenshade pleaded guilty in May to charges including rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child. Borough police said the abuse began when the girl was younger than 13 and spanned about a year.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Sean McCormack said the victim told Espenshade during Thursday's sentencing hearing that she is "always on edge" as a result of his abuse. She said she can become "frozen with fear" when a stranger approaches her, the prosecutor said.

Espenshade apologized to her and vowed to get counseling while in prison, McCormack said.

Dowling also labeled Espenshade a sexually violent predator, meaning he must register with police for life and his neighbors will be notified of his crimes.

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