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| The Pennsylvania Judicial Center where Gary Brown had his appeal to his jail-term rejected. Brown's attorney said the molestation might have resulted from injuries Brown suffered decades earlier when he fell several stories from Strawberry Square while working as a window washer. |
Child molester who told victim abuse was 'OK with God' loses bid to reduce prison sentence - An admitted Dauphin County child abuser who told his victim that the molestation was "OK with God" won't be getting out of state prison any time soon. The state Superior Court assured that this week by rejecting Gary D. Brown's appeal of the 11- to 22-year sentence he is serving on his multiple guilty pleas to sex crimes.
County President Judge Todd A. Hoover slapped Brown with that penalty in September 2011, a decade after Brown began abusing his victim. Investigators said Brown spent two years forcing the girl, who was 13 when the abuse began, to perform sex acts. The molestation occurred almost daily, authorities said. Brown, 69, of Dauphin, appealed his sentence to the state court on grounds that it was too harsh. How long Brown was to spend behind bars was left up to Hoover because Brown had no sentencing deal with county prosecutors when he entered his guilty pleas.
Brown was originally charged with 200 sexual offenses, but pleaded guilty to three counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. During his sentencing hearing, Brown told Hoover he had "rededicated my life to Jesus Christ" and wanted to do all he could to atone for his crimes.
His pastor cited Brown's work with church-related activities and with agencies including Meals on Wheels. And Brown's attorney said the molestation might have resulted from injuries Brown suffered decades earlier when he fell several stories from Strawberry Square while working as a window washer.
In upholding Hoover's sentence, Superior Court President Judge John T. Bender wrote that "although (Brown's) church-related charitable activities are laudable, the gravity of (his) crimes was massive." Bender also wrote that Brown's profession of renewed religious devotion "must be balanced against evidence that (he) used his religious beliefs as a means by which to manipulate the victim." Brown is serving his sentence in the state prison at Albion.
County President Judge Todd A. Hoover slapped Brown with that penalty in September 2011, a decade after Brown began abusing his victim. Investigators said Brown spent two years forcing the girl, who was 13 when the abuse began, to perform sex acts. The molestation occurred almost daily, authorities said. Brown, 69, of Dauphin, appealed his sentence to the state court on grounds that it was too harsh. How long Brown was to spend behind bars was left up to Hoover because Brown had no sentencing deal with county prosecutors when he entered his guilty pleas.
Brown was originally charged with 200 sexual offenses, but pleaded guilty to three counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault. During his sentencing hearing, Brown told Hoover he had "rededicated my life to Jesus Christ" and wanted to do all he could to atone for his crimes.
His pastor cited Brown's work with church-related activities and with agencies including Meals on Wheels. And Brown's attorney said the molestation might have resulted from injuries Brown suffered decades earlier when he fell several stories from Strawberry Square while working as a window washer.
In upholding Hoover's sentence, Superior Court President Judge John T. Bender wrote that "although (Brown's) church-related charitable activities are laudable, the gravity of (his) crimes was massive." Bender also wrote that Brown's profession of renewed religious devotion "must be balanced against evidence that (he) used his religious beliefs as a means by which to manipulate the victim." Brown is serving his sentence in the state prison at Albion.
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