LITITZ, Pa. — A Lancaster County man pleaded guilty to 27 charges relating to the rape and sexual assault of four victims between 2012 and 2021, prosecutors in Lancaster announced Thursday, Oct. 13.
Melvin R. Petersheim, 49, of the 600 block of Integrity Drive in Lititz, entered a guilty plea for charges of rape of a child (2x), statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault (3x), unlawful contact with a minor (4x), aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 13 (3x), aggravated indecent assault of a person less than 16 (2x), corruption of minors (4x), indecent assault of a person less than 13 (4x) and indecent assault of a person less than 16 (2x).
Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn accepted the guilty plea and will sentence the defendant on a later date after a Sexually Violent Predator determination is made, prosecutors said.
The maximum possible sentence is 339 years in prison.
According to police, the sexual abuse occurred between 2012 and 2021 in Manheim Township.
On Nov. 1, 2021, Manheim Township Police received a child welfare report from Lancaster County Children & Youth. Subsequent interviews with the victims revealed and detailed the abuse.
Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick prosecuted the case.
