WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A man who was found guilty by a jury of kidnapping, rape and several other crimes was sentenced by a Sedgwick County judge to over 418 years in prison on Friday.
Court documents show Manasse’h Ward, 23, was found guilty by a jury on August 2 of the following crimes:
- One count 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 count of interference with LEO
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said Ward was sentenced to life with parole eligibility after 5,025 months in prison, which is 418 years and nine months.
Ward was found guilty of the kidnapping of three children in two separate incidents near Clark Elementary in early January 2023.
On Jan. 4, a girl in her early teens reported she had been kidnapped as she was walking home from school. She told police Ward forced her into a vehicle and tried to sexually assault her, then let her go. The girl told a family member, and the police were called.
On Jan. 5, two elementary students, a boy and a girl, left their home on foot. Police believe Ward kidnapped them. A short time later, he dropped off the boy but kept the girl. When the boy got to school, he reported it. The girl was found safe a short time later.
Officers credited the boy for helping them locate Ward near Harry and Woodlawn. After a foot pursuit, police arrested the man without further incident.