Man gets 30 years to life for child rapes
A Troy man sentenced TROY — Tuesday to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of three children under age 10 was described by a Miami County judge as a “sexual deviant and predator.”
Common Pleas Judge Jeannine Pratt told John L. Dankworth, 60, the 30 years to life was mandatory time, meaning he won’t be eligible for parole for at least 30 years.
“The defendant will never be able to offend anyone else again,” Pratt said. “All you care about is yourself . ... You had the audacity to blame the children ... indicating they started it.”
Dankworth was indicted by a grand jury this summer on three felony counts of rape for alleged actions between Aug. 1, 2015, and May 31.
He pleaded guilty in August in a plea agreement that called for the 30-year sen- tence.
Public defender Steve King said Dankworth owned up to his actions from the start of an investigation.
“He did not want to put the children through anything more than he had to,” King said.
Dankworth had little comment. “I don’t really know what to say,” he said.
Ryan Spitzer, an assistant county prosecutor, called the offenses “absolutely horrendous.”
The children’s mother said Dankworth’s actions were “unforgivable.”
Dankworth was classified a Tier III sex offender, which would require lifetime registration, if released from prison.