Chester Co. Child Rapist Sentenced To 42-84 Years In Prison

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — A Chester County man has been sentenced to 42 to 84 years behind bars for child rape, a judge ruled at a hearing, the longest possible term behind bars allowed by the law for the crimes for which the man was convicted.

Jose Ramirez-Cantarero, 38, of East Whiteland, began sexually abusing the victim in late 2019, when she was eight years old, police said.

Testimony revealed that Ramirez-Cantarero repeatedly touched the child on numerous occasions when they were alone, and then the crimes escalated, the district attorney's office said.

All told, Ramirez-Cantarero raped the young girl 16 times, according to police.

He was convicted of sexual abuse of a child at trial in 2024.

“Judge Binder justly put this Defendant in prison for the rest of his life," District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement. "The Chester County DA’s Office prioritizes protecting children from abuse and will continue to advocate for sentences like this to keep our children safe."

If you have concerns about the safety of a child, call 911 and call Childline at 1-800-932-0313.