CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — A Shippenville man who began “grooming” a sexual assault victim when he was five-years-old and then repeatedly raped him over the course of several years has been sentenced to serve up to 80 years in state prison.

On Wednesday, September 11, President Judge James Arner sentenced 47-year-old Garrick Landon Bloom to a minimum of 40 years and a maximum of 80 years in state prison.

Judge Arner ordered Bloom to a minimum of 96 months to a maximum of 192 months on each of five first-degree felony counts of Rape of a Child, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

Bloom received 181 days credit for time served.

He will also be required to register as a Tier 3 sex offender, which requires a lifetime registration.

Bloom pleaded guilty to the above charges on August 14.

As a result of the plea agreement, the following charges were dismissed:

• Rape of a Child, Felony 1 (211 counts)
• Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, Felony 1 (216 counts)
• Aggravated Indecent Assault of Child, Felony 1 (216 counts)
• Statutory Sexual Assault, Felony 2 (216 counts)
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Felony 3

Bloom currently remains lodged in the Clarion County Jail awaiting transfer to a state correctional facility.

(Photos by Dave Cyphert of ProPoint Media Photography)

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, Clarion County Children and Youth Services (CYS) reported to Clarion-based State Police on October 25, 2018, a known juvenile male was being sexually assaulted by Bloom.

The criminal complaint stated that the victim told investigators he was forced to perform oral sex on Bloom on numerous occasions.

Court records indicate that Bloom began to “groom” the victim when he was five-years-old and continued to sexually assault him for several years.

Bloom first denied committing the crimes; however, he later admitted to sexually assaulting the boy, the complaint states.

A warrant was issued for Bloom’s arrest on January 16.

Investigators said after working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshal’s Service, police learned of Bloom’s “traveling methods” and found that he traveled to Florida.

Bloom was located in a homeless shelter in Tallahassee and taken into custody on February 7. He was then extradited back to Clarion County.

EDITOR’S NOTE 1: Extreme graphic details were not included due to the sexual nature of the alleged crimes.

EDITOR’S NOTE 2: Several details were removed from this article to help protect the identity of the victim.