Woman Caged for Boy's Rape

(Lebanon, Pennsylvania) In March 2006, a 39-year-old woman, Jody Blessing, was accused of sex crimes against an 11-year-old boy which occurred in 1999. She faced rape, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault, indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and related charges. Her husband, Ammon Blessing, faced comparable charges.

In October, Blessing pleaded guilty and, yesterday, she was sentenced to six and one-half to 20 years in state prison. Lebanon County Judge Brad Charles gave Blessing the sentence for convictions on rape and endangering the welfare charges.

Ammon Blessing was convicted during a trial in November and is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14.