A Kinzers man was convicted by jury last Friday of rape of a child and seven additional charges regarding sex offenses that occurred between 2010 to 2015.

Victor Charles Smith, 43 of the 3500 block of Lincoln Highway East, was found guilty of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, and corruption of minors which are all felonies. He was also found guilty of a count of corruption of minors and two counts of indecent assault of a person less than 13 which are misdemeanors.

Pennsylvania State Police received an allegation of sexual abuse and spoke with the victim in September 2020.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Ponessa prosecuted the case and stated the victim was having nightmares about the incidents, which is how the crimes came out.

“All [the victim] wanted was to be able to sleep at night,” Ponessa said during her closing argument.

There were two additional victims who then came forward.  The evidence presented by Ponessa at trial reflected the abuse towards two of the victims while the defendant is currently pending charges against the third victim in Smyrna, Delaware.

Ponessa pointed out that sexual abuse crimes are unique in that details can come out years later. She also stated the victims didn’t have any motive to lie, there is no “textbook” in how a victim should respond to sexual abuse and praised the courage of the victims for testifying in a room full of strangers.

“Now is the time to come back in here, look at [the victims], and tell them ‘I do believe you,’” Ponessa said to end her closing argument.

The jury deliberated for about four hours before coming back with the guilty verdict after the three-day trial.

Ponessa asked for bail to be raised to $700,000 cash on the two charging dockets, which presiding Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker accepted. Judge Reinaker will order sentence at a later date.

Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Kory Wardrop filed charges, testified, and attended the entirety of trial.

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