Apr 12, 2013 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A Waynesburg man found guilty April 11, 2012, of raping a 13-year-old girl was sentenced to 11 to 22 years in prison Friday.

Charles Edward Cumberledge II, 19, also was found guilty of sexual assault, statutory sexual assault and indecent assault. The events took place in summer 2011 when Cumberledge was baby-sitting the girl and her 11-year-old brother.

During the sentencing proceeding, defense attorney Rose Semple asked Cumberledge to talk about his upbringing, likes and dislikes. He said he considered himself to be a kindhearted and helpful person but is not as fond of people as he is of animals. Cumberledge said he had anger issues that stemmed from a poor and sometimes abusive relationship with his father. He said he underwent anger management treatment, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, throughout his middle and high school years. He claimed to have witnessed four of his siblings being sexually violated but did not elaborate on whom was involved or when this might have occurred.

Semple asked Judge Farley Toothman to consider these mitigating factors, along with his age when determining a sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Brianna Vanata said Cumberledge’s actions were not that of a “kindhearted” person. She asked Toothman to consider a sentence that would keep Cumberledge away from the community as long as possible.

“She lost her innocence, virginity, faith in society and people as a whole,” Vanata said of the victim.

Before imposing sentence, Toothman said it was not lost on the court that April is nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness month.

“Sexual violence on a young girl affects her sense of safety for the rest of her life,” Toothman said. “The consequence of a sexual assault, for everyone (involved), is a life sentence.”

He told Cumberledge there comes a time for every man to be responsible for their own actions.

“Our character shines brightest in the dark, when we think no one is looking and no one will tell. Honesty is the fundamental condition for a successful life,” Toothman said. “The jury didn’t believe you were being honest then, nor would they believe you now. Acts of dishonesty are never truly hidden.”

Toothman said he hoped Cumberledge would use his time behind bars to become honest with himself.

Asked by Toothman if he had something to say, Cumberledge angrily stated the victim and her family lied.

He was remanded to the custody of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department for transfer to SCI-Pittsburgh for classification. Cumberledge will receive credit for time served of one year and one day in the Greene County jail.

As a condition of his sentencing, he will be required to register and maintain up-to-date work and address information on the sexual offenders’ registry upon his release from prison. Cumberledge was ordered to pay $2,500 in fines, plus all court fees and costs by the end of his sentence.