KANSAS CITY, Kan.— A jury found a man guilty of kidnapping, rape, and other crimes. On Friday, a Sedgwick County judge gave him a sentence of more than 418 years in jail.
Based on court records, Manasse’h Ward, 23, was found guilty of the following acts on August 2:
Kept one person hostage
One count of theft with violence
There were three counts of severe criminal sodomy.
Five counts of severe public debauchery with a child
There was one count of serious attack.
One count of going against LEO
As per the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, Ward was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 5,025 months in jail, which is 418 years and nine months.
Three kids were taken by Ward near Clark Elementary in early January 2023. He was found guilty of these crimes.
A girl in her early teens said she had been raped while going home from school on January 4. She told the police that Ward put her in a car against her will and tried to sexually attack her before letting her go. The girl told a family member, who then called the cops.
Three kids, a boy, a girl, and an adult, came home on foot on January 5. The police think Ward took them hostage. Not long after that, he dropped off the boy but kept the girl. The boy told his teacher about it when he got to school. Soon after, the girl was found safe and sound.
The boy was credited with helping police find Ward near Harry and Woodlawn. After chasing the man on foot, cops caught him without any more trouble.
