Wichita man sentenced to more than 400 years in prison for rape, kidnapping

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A man found guilty by a jury of kidnapping, rape and several other crimes was sentenced to more than 418 years in prison by a Sedgwick County judge on Friday.

Court documents show Manasse’h Ward, 23, was found guilty by a jury on August 2 of the following crimes:

• A case of kidnapping

• One count of aggravated kidnapping

• Three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy

• Five counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child

• One count of aggravated assault

• One intervention issue with LEO

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The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said Ward was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility following a sentence of 5,025 months, which is 418 years and nine months.

Ward was found guilty Kidnapping of three children in two separate incidents near Clark Elementary School In early January 2023.

On January 4, a teenage girl reported that she was abducted while walking home from school. She told police Ward forced her into a vehicle and sexually assaulted her, then released her. The girl told a family member and the police were called.

On January 5, two primary school students, a girl and a boy, left their homes on foot. Police believe Ward kidnapped them. After a short time, he released the boy but kept the girl. When the child arrived at school, he reported the situation. The girl was found safe a short time later.

Officers credited the boy with helping them find Ward near Harry and Woodlawn. After the chase, the police detained the person without further incident.

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