DA: Convicted Child Abuser Will Spend Life In Prison And 'Rest Of Eternity In Hell'
WEST BRADFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – A Chester County former prison lieutenant convicted of sexually abusing at least five children in his care will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Sixty-year-old Leroy Mitchell, of West Bradford Township, and his wife were reportedly foster parents to at least 50 children over many years, beginning in the 1980s.
One of those children, a 10-year-old, reported she'd been sexually assaulted by Mitchell in March 2013, which launched an investigation.
After interviewing numerous witnesses from around the nation, Mitchell was arrested and charged with sexually abusing five children (see previous story). He was also fired from his job at Chester County Prison. Mitchell was later convicted after pleading guilty to the crimes.
On March 5, 2014, a judge sentenced the defendant to 20-40 years in prison.
"The defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison and the rest of eternity in hell," said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan. "No punishment is severe enough for this conduct."
"It was the courage of one ten-year-old girl who started this investigation," he added. "This is one of the most disturbing child abuse cases in the history of Chester County."