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Update: Former Fort Drum Soldier In Prison On Child Rape Charge

Story Published: Apr 27, 2012 at 1:30 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 27, 2012 at 1:30 PM EDT

We have an update on the case of a former Fort Drum soldier and his wife who were accused of sexually abusing a three year old girl in Pennsylvania.

According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette newspaper in Pennsylvania, 38 year old Richard Lafayette pleaded guilty last November to criminal solicitation to rape a child.

He was sentenced to a 7 1/2- to 15-year prison term.

The latest news is about his wife, 24 year old Samantha Mathers of Williamsport.

The newspaper reports that Mathers rejected a plea agreement from the Lycoming County District Attorney's office

According to the report, Mathers told the judge that she didn't believe she committed the felony crimes of which she's accused.

New York State Police arrested Lafayette in August 2001 on a warrant from Pennsylvania.

According to Williamsport police, Lafayette struck up a relationship with Mathers while he was stationed in Afghanistan.

According to police, the two chatted online about allowing him to have sex with Mathers' three year old daughter.

The explicit conversations allegedly took place between August 20, 2010 and April 29, 2011.

When Lafayette returned to the United States in March 2011, police said he visited Mathers during his leave from Fort Drum.

During the first visit in April, police said Lafayette sexually abused the child and her mother allowed it.

Mathers married Lafayette on June 30, 2011, according to police.

See the Williamsport Sun-Gazette article

See our original report
 
Monday, May 20, 2013
, Watertown, NY

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