Jury announces verdict in trial of former State College psychologist accused of child rape

A former State College psychologist was found guilty Friday of child rape and other sex crimes in a case that Pennsylvania prosecutors said was about a young girl robbed of her innocence.

Richard Scott Lenhart, 63, was found guilty of all seven felony charges by a Centre County jury at the end of a three-day trial. Seven men and five women deliberated about 80 minutes before they announced their verdict.

Lenhart dropped his head and sighed after the jury foreperson read “guilty” the first of what proved to be seven times. The woman he was convicted of sexually assaulting had no visible reaction.

“In a case like this, of course there is justice as it relates to the defendant, but there is still a victim that will deal with this for the rest of her life,” Senior Deputy Attorney General Michael Madeira said. “I’ll prosecute cases like this all day long, but it doesn’t change for the victim that she will deal with this for the rest of her life.”

The woman, now 27 and living in Texas, told jurors Lenhart groomed and sexually abused her for the better part of a decade in State College.

She answered questions from prosecutors in a matter-of-fact tone, telling the jury she can recount specific instances of abuse because of significant dates like her 10th birthday.

When being questioned by Madeira, she would occasionally sit silently and turn her gaze downward for 10-15 seconds at a time. At one point, she was briefly excused after what appeared to be a stress ball filled with a liquid burst in her hand.

“It takes a lot to come out and do this,” Madeira said.

Lenhart did not testify, but previously denied doing anything inappropriate. Defense lawyer Thomas M. Dickey told the jury the woman’s statements “don’t make sense” and were not corroborated with evidence, but the jury disagreed.

Dickey said he plans to appeal. He said he believes certain evidence was improperly admitted and prejudicial. Lenhart maintained his innocence after the jury’s decision was announced.

“This victim relied on the defendant to be a source of support and healing, and instead he abused his authority in order to sexually assault her for years,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement. “I commend the victim for having the bravery to come forward to face her abuser, and am grateful that the jury listened to the victim testify to the horror she endured at the hands of the defendant and then found him guilty of all charges. My office will always work hard to seek justice against those who harm children.”

The verdict marked the second time in the past decade that Lenhart was convicted. He pleaded no contest in 2015 to charges that accused him of indecently assaulting two adult patients and then submitting bogus insurance claims for the sessions.

He was sentenced to up to six years in state prison and ultimately served the maximum after twice being denied parole. In a 2019 decision, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole cited his risk to the community, minimization of his crimes, his refusal to accept responsibility and more.

His second attempt at being released on parole was denied after the board found his abuse of a position of authority warranted a “longer period of incarceration.” He was released in February 2022 from Rockview state prison.

Those charges grew out of a misconduct investigation by the state Board of Psychology, which revoked Lenhart’s license in 2013 and fined him more than $68,000 for more than 100 counts of professional misconduct.

The two patients were survivors of previous sexual trauma and the board found Lenhart was “re-traumatizing them in his role as a psychologist.”

In his latest case, Lenhart was found guilty of child rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of minors. At least one of the charges carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.

Madeira said prosecutors have not determined what recommendation they will make to Centre County Judge Julia Rater, but added that the testimony would justify recommending upward of a 40- to 80-year sentence.

Lenhart, who was handcuffed and transported to the Centre County Correctional Facility, is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 19.