A former city church deacon was sentenced Friday to serve 10 to 20 years in state prison for the rape of an 11-year-old boy to whom he was supposed to be a mentor.
Warren Douglas Locke, 56, was found guilty by a jury on April 25 of four counts of child rape and numerous related charges, including indecent assault, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child.
Locke served as a deacon at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 527 Park Ave., where prosecutors said he took the boy under his wing. The incidents took place at Locke's 101 Academy St. apartment between late December 2010 and mid-January 2011, according to police.
After his conviction, Charles Daniels, pastor at the church, said Locke was only conditionally named a deacon and the church had no knowledge of his actions before he was charged with the crimes. He was removed from service after the allegations were made, Daniels said.
Because of the crimes, Locke must register as a sexual offender on the Megan's Law list.
In addition to the state prison sentence, Lycoming County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio ordered Locke to serve seven years of state-supervised probation.
Locke has been incarcerated in the Lycoming County Prison since his conviction.
