Ex-youth center worker gets 10 to 25 years in abuse case

LANCASTER (AP) — A former employee at a Pennsylvania county youth detention center has been sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison following convictions of sexual abuse of juveniles in the facility.

Fifty-five-year-old David Stevenson pleaded guilty or no contest Wednesday to a score of sex abuse charges as part of an agreement with Lancaster County prosecutors.

Authorities said the crimes occurred in 2016 and 2017 as Stevenson worked at the county Youth Intervention Center and involved five 15- to 17-year-old juveniles who were dependency residents, meaning they lived separately from the population in detention.

LNP newspaper reports that President Judge Dennis Reinaker told the defendant “You took advantage of individuals entrusted to your care.” Stevenson apologized to the victims and said “I am ready to pay for my mistakes.”