Altoona Man Sentenced For Sex With Minor Girls

A 22-year-old Altoona man was sentenced in Blair County Court yesterday to 8-20 years in a state correctional facility.  The sentencing of John Lender followed his guilty plea on April 3 to multiple felony counts, including corruption of minors, rape of a child, and statutory sexual assault.  During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mays asked the judge to order therapy and substance abuse evaluations for Lender, though he noted Lender was not classified as a sexually violent predator.  In defense of his client, attorney Anthony Kattouf reportedly highlighted that Lender was 20 at the time of the offense and mentioned his mental health issues.  The case originated from an Altoona police investigation into his interactions with two 13-year-old girls.  According to court documents, Lender told officers he had been “tricked twice into relationships with underage girls who he thought were older.”