A hush fell over the Lancaster County Courthouse this morning when 46-year-old Kervin Blank took his seat before Judge David Ashworth, flanked by deputies dressed in neat uniforms. Blank, a New Holland resident, pled guilty on July 10 to a slew of charges arising from offenses committed nearly a decade prior. According to a press release from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, he was sentenced to eight to twenty years in prison for indecent assault of a child under the age of 13, solicitation of statutory sexual assault, criminal use of a communication facility, aggravated indecent assault, indecent exposure, minor corruption, and unlawful contact.
According to court records and a report by local CBS affiliate WHP, Blank’s first victim was only ten years old when the assaults began in Leacock Township between 2015 and 2017. Prosecutors claim he preyed on the kid repeatedly, only stopping when she fought back or when someone unexpectedly entered the room. Years later, in January 2024, Blank utilized social media to set up a motel rendezvous with a 15-year-old girl, even encouraging her to bring a friend.
In court, the now-20-year-old read a written victim impact statement that left more than a few people frightened. “I haven’t forgotten,” she said, portraying Blank as a “predator” and a “wolf,” whose acts “are etched in my brain, body, and soul forever.” Judge Ashworth praised her bravery and resilience, urging her not to let this event define her future.
Outside the courtroom, neighbors congregated on the courthouse steps. Mary Johnson, who lives two blocks from Blank’s former home, said she never saw anything unusual in her calm suburban neighborhood. “It’s heartbreaking to think these horror stories were happening just down the road,” she remarked, shaking her head.
The case has already prompted local groups to step forward. Safe Harbor, a trauma counseling center in Lancaster, announced today that it has established a new emergency fund to ensure survivors have quick access to support services. “Too often, survivors feel alone,” Safe Harbor director Linda Perez explained. “We want them to know help is just a phone call away.”
As Blank is led to Lancaster County Prison, the community is left wondering how this breach of trust went unnoticed for so long. In a brief statement, District Attorney Heather Adams highlighted the necessity of remaining vigilant. “This sentence serves as a reminder that we cannot turn a blind eye when even the smallest voice cries out for justice.”
Beyond the decades-long suffering, this case highlights crucial gaps in community understanding and resources, which local authorities and advocates promise to solve in order to safeguard the county’s most vulnerable inhabitants.
