A Greensburg man was ordered to serve up to 40 years in prison for the rape of a child.
James Dickant Jr., 35, was convicted of nine counts in a nonjury trial in October in which prosecutors claimed he had repeated sexual contact with a young child over a period of more than seven years.
According to court records, Dickant also exposed the child to other sexual situations and drugs.
The victim’s mother testified Wednesday that Dickant’s actions continue to impact her child.
“He took (their) sense of security away and their sense of (themselves) is tarnished by this event. (They are) afraid of what the past will do to (them),” she testified.
Westmoreland County Common Pleas Judge Christopher Feliciani imposed a 20- to 40-year prison sentence for Dickant along with a lifetime requirement that he register with the state police as a convicted sex offender.
Prosecutors unsuccessfully argued that Dickant receive a longer sentence to reflect the multiple crimes for which he was convicted.
“Concurrent sentences in cases is for someone who pleads guilty to prevent a victim for having to testify,” Assistant District Attorney Katie Ranker said.
Dickant’s victim struggled with having to come into court and tell their story, and as a result suffered panic attacks at the courthouse and continues to live in fear, Ranker told the judge.
Dickant in 2023 pleaded guilty to a string of burglaries in Greensburg and Hempfield in 2019 and 2020. He was sentenced to serve two to four years in prison for those cases.
