Child Rapist to spend 56 1/2 years in prison

After her parents were deemed unfit, a 4-year-old girl and her siblings were sent to live with their closest relatives.

But their new home was no haven. Christopher Kenney, 36, repeatedly raped the girl over a two-year period, a Franklin County jury found. His sentence was handed down Thursday: 56 1/2 years to life in prison.

Kenney, formerly of Brehl Avenue on the West Side, had been convicted in November of rape, gross sexual imposition and child pornography.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Tim Horton called Kenney's crimes "hideous and foul."

"You have chosen not to accept responsibility for your actions. That is, in itself, a sad case," Horton said in handing down consecutive sentences, which included at least 40 years for rape. Kenney will not be eligible for parole until he is 92.

child rapist commits suicide

Scottsbluff police have found the body of a Mitchell man who was set to appear in court on child sex assault charges.

Authorities had charged 53-year-old Gerald Dittbenner with dozens of counts, including two counts of forcible rape, two counts of first-degree sexual assault, two pornography counts and two counts of incest.

Investigators have said Dittbenner had repeatedly assaulted the two girls over 10 years, beginning when they were 6 and 9 years old.

Police found Dittbenner’s body in his home Tuesday morning, the same day he was set to enter a plea to the charges. Scotts Bluff County Attorney Derek Weimer says Dittbenner apparently shot himself.