A Columbia man was sentenced to 5-12 years in state prison Monday afternoon by Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright after he was convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old victim, whose recording of the final assault and brave testimony during trial were key pieces of evidence in the guilty verdict.

“(These offenses) would’ve stayed in the dark,” prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller said during the sentencing proceeding. “And would’ve never come to light.”

John Wakefield Jr., 48 of the first block of S. 4^th Street, was convicted by jury on charges of statutory sexual assault (11 years older), aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, and indecent assault of a person less than 16 following a trial in December 2023.

Wakefield Jr. must register as a sex offender with the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life through Megan’s Law.

“This is a type of crime that hurts a victim, family, and community in a way that’s hard to put into words,” Miller said.

The victim recorded the final assault by hiding a camera in the room. The recording was presented at trial.

The victim provided the recording to a neighbor who called police and disclosed the abuse spanned from February through September 2022.

Wakefield Jr. and his wife testified during trial that the abuse was “wrestling,” as Wakefield Jr. had previously been a wrestling coach.

“The child he abused and molested did nothing wrong,” Wright said to the supporters of the defendant present in the gallery. “You did nothing wrong,” Wright turned to the victim present in the jury box. “You were victimized by a criminal. You are a hero in my book.”

Judge Wright sentenced Wakefield to 2-5 years on the statutory sexual assault conviction and 3-7 years on the aggravated indecent assault conviction to run consecutive.

Columbia Borough Police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges and testified during trial.

MEDIA CONTACT: Sean McBryan, semcbryan@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @SeanMcBryanLanc.