LANCASTER, PA — A Strasburg man received a prison sentence of 55 to 112 years last Friday after being found guilty of child rape and multiple other charges. The sentencing was handed down by Lancaster County President Judge David Ashworth.
Derrick S. Myers, 34, of the 200 block of W. Main Street, was convicted by a jury in August of 22 charges related to sex offenses that took place around 2018. Later, in 2022, he was also convicted on charges of domestic violence and witness intimidation.
During the hearing, a licensed psychologist determined that Myers is a sexually violent predator. As a result, he must register as a lifetime sex offender and adhere to all requirements under Megan’s Law.
The four-day trial in August saw the jury affirm beyond a reasonable doubt that Myers had committed the sexual offenses around 2018, which the victim disclosed in 2022.
Evidence presented at the trial included oil/lubricant bottles used during the assaults and a condom containing both the defendant and the victim’s DNA. Testimony was also given by forensic interviewers from the Lancaster County Children’s Alliance and an expert in child sexual assaults.
In 2022, Myers faced additional charges of false imprisonment, criminal trespass, stalking, terroristic threats, and intimidating a witness. These charges stemmed from incidents where Myers returned to the victim’s residence, barricaded the victim’s mother in her bedroom, and attempted to coerce a minor witness to accept blame for his actions.
The jury took only 35 minutes to find Myers guilty on all counts, including rape by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, rape of a child, sexual assault, and other charges.
Officers from the Strasburg and West Lampeter Police Departments played key roles in the investigation and trial. The case stands as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for such heinous acts.
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