A Lancaster man who had his original 20-year prison sentence for repeated rape of a child will not serve a single day less, a Lancaster County judge ordered Friday.
Samuel Santiago will serve 20 to 40 years for the 9-year cycle of abuse – the exact same term Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth ordered in 2013 after a jury convicted Santiago of several charges.
Santiago, now 41, had the original sentence vacated because it involved mandatory minimum terms, which have been deemed unconstitutional by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
In court Friday, Judge Ashworth stressed that Santiago abused the girl for many years at multiple locations in Lancaster city.
Santiago’s wife was operating a daycare at the time of the abuse.
The victim, now a college student, told the judge on Friday the abuse had long-lasting impact, according to Assistant District Attorney James Reeder. She was 4 when the abuse started.
The victim’s mother also spoke in court about the crimes’ impact on her daughter.
Santiago, who maintained his innocence when the jury convicted him after an hour of deliberation, declined to appear at Friday’s hearing.
Judge Ashworth ordered sentence – without invoking mandatory minimums – on counts of rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and indecent exposure.
Lancaster city police Detective Robert Deeter filed charges.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright