Williamsport, Pa. — The years-long criminal case of a Williamsport man accused of sexually assaulting a young child finally ended in the Lycoming County courthouse on Friday.
In a rebuke of an earlier sentencing deal offered to Cody Allen Ruhl, President Judge Eric Linhardt sentenced the 24-year-old to spend up to seven years in state prison. The Lycoming County District Attorney’s office had previously offered Ruhl, who admitted forcing a 6-year-old to perform oral sex on him multiple times, a sweetheart deal consisting of three months of time served, followed by supervision at a group home.
Instead, Ruhl is headed to state prison.
He pleaded guilty to indecent assault and corruption of minors in April of this year — four years after he was arrested for the assault at a caretaker’s home. After his arrest, he was released to Community Options Inc., a group home on Woodland Avenue in Williamsport, where he was to be supervised 24/7. Concerned neighbors, however, say Ruhl was often outside alone, in a neighborhood with children, without any aides or supervisors. He was also under supervision when he sexually assaulted the 6 year old.
Williamsport, Pa. — A man admitted to putting his penis in a 6-year-old child’s mouth before…
Ruhl will lose all of his Social Security disability benefits since he will be incarcerated for more than 30 days, court records show. Ruhl, who could be paroled after 15 months, will be required to serve three years of special probation after fulfilling his sentence. He will also be labeled a Tier 3 sex offender, meaning he will be a lifetime sex offender registrant, be required to check in with PSP every 90 days, report any move within three days, and keep up-to-date personal information.
As part of a special condition, Linhardt said Ruhl cannot have contact with the victim or their family.
Docket sheet
