CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – A 28-year-old man who was recently found guilty of raping a 12-year-old girl at a Washington Township residence was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in state prison on Wednesday.
President Judge James Arner on Wednesday, October 3, sentenced Lars Matthew Rindahl, of Annville, Lebanon County, formerly of Tidioute, to the following state prison sentence:
– 240 to 480 months on the first-degree felony charge of Rape of Child; and
– 24 to 48 months on the first-degree felony count of Statutory Sexual Assault.
Sentences will run concurrently.
He will receive credit for 47 days served.
While Rindahl had several family members, including his sister, mother, and grandparents, in attendance to speak in favor of a more lenient sentence, the mother of the victim was also represented, by phone, and shared comments from both the victim and herself.
In the victim’s address to the court, she said, “This completely changed the course of my life.”
“I walk around with so much shame about what happened.”
The victim’s mother added that “she lost her trust, her innocence, and her dreams. She’s even lost her faith.”
President Judge James Arner noted that he believed a state prison sentence was appropriate because of “undue risk that Mr. Rindahl will commit another crime” and also stated that a lesser sentence would “depreciate the seriousness of the crime.”
The first-degree felony Rape of Child charge is a Tier 3 sex offense. Rindahl will be required to maintain a lifetime registration as a sex offender.
Other conditions include sex offender counseling and a requirement to avoid all contact with the victim and her family.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, the investigation began on November 6, 2016, when a juvenile victim reported to Franklin-based State Police that she was sexually assaulted by Rindahl at a residence on Sunny Road, in Lickingville, Washington Township, Clarion County.
In a forensic interview that occurred at the Children’s Home Society in Bartow, Florida, on December 13, 2016, the victim disclosed that she was visiting a family member at a private residence in Lickingville in late December 2013 at the time of the incident.
The 12-year-old victim said that she was left alone with Rindahl, and he began touching her in a sexual manner. She said she was scared to tell him to stop and that his actions then became more aggressive, according to the criminal complaint.
Rindahl then allegedly made an inappropriate comment to the girl before he continued to perform a sexual act on her.
The investigation was subsequently transferred to Trooper S. Nicewonger, of Marienville-based State Police, who filed the charges.
Following a jury trial at the Clarion County Courthouse on Thursday, August 30, Rindahl was found guilty of raping the girl.
EDITOR’S NOTE #1: Extreme graphic details were not included due to the sexual nature of the crime.
EDITOR’S NOTE #2: Additional details were omitted to help protect the identity of the victim.
