Allentown man sentenced for sex-related crimes

Allentown man sentenced for sex-related crimes

11:00 AM EST, January 2, 2008
An Allentown man who failed to show up for a Schuylkill County trial in September and was convicted in absentia of dozens of sex-related crimes against three children was sentenced in absentia today in Schuylkill County Court to 42 to 84 years in prison.

Russell R. Rehrig, 51, whose last known address is 634 W. Whitehall St., also was declared a sexually violent predator by President Judge William E. Baldwin, meaning he will have to register his whereabouts with police for the rest of his life.

Rehrig remains at large after skipping bail before his September trial. A bench warrant was issued when he failed to appear for trial, and authorities have offered up to $2,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Authorities have said they believe he still is in the Allentown area.

Rehrig was found guilty in September of a total of 55 counts: 10 counts of rape; five counts of rape of a child; 13 counts of statutory sexual assault; six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; 14 counts of corruption of minors; two counts each of aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault; and three counts of terroristic threats. He molested two boys and a girl, then ages 15, 14 and 11, from Aug. 25, 2004, to Aug. 4, 2005.

Two of the three children are mentally challenged.

Anyone with information about Rehrig's whereabouts is asked to call county Detective Dennis Clark at 570-628-1361.

After Rehirg's arrest, Baldwin set bail at $5,000 cash on cases against each child. Rehrig had a bail bondsman post the $15,000 total bail, Goodman said.

Rehrig had shown up for all of his previous hearings scheduled since his August 2005 arrest, Goodman said.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-sex-01032008cn,0,1684146.story?coll=all_home_util