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

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

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

A kidnapping number
One count of aggravated kidnapping
Three counts of aggravated criminal sodomy
Five counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child
A charge of aggravated assault
A LEO interference number

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The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said Ward was sentenced to life parole eligibility after serving 5,025 months in prison, or 418 years and nine months.

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

On January 4, a girl in her early teens reported being abducted while walking home from school. She told police that Ward forced her into a vehicle and tried to sexually assault her, then let her drive away. The girl told a family member, and the police were called.

On January 5, two elementary school students, a boy and a girl, left their home on foot. Police believe Ward kidnapped them. A short time later, he let go of the boy but kept the girl. When the boy got to school, he reported her. The girl was found safe a short time later.

Officers credited the boy with helping them locate Ward near Harry and Woodlawn. After a foot chase, police arrested the man without further incident.

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