A 46-year-old Hughestown man will spend between 52½ and 111 years in prison after traveling to Pike County with the intent to rape two children. Pike County President Judge Gregory Chelak handed down the sentence to John Gately following his conviction last November on charges of attempted child rape and 48 counts of dissemination of child sexual abuse material. Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin stated on Monday that the length of the sentence ensures Gately will likely never be released, preventing him from being in a position to target children again.
During a three-day trial, jurors heard evidence that Gately expressed a desire to have sexual contact with two children, aged 5 and 10, to a woman and sent her dozens of illegal images. Following his arrest, investigators discovered additional child sexual abuse material on his phone, including videos of infants and toddlers being abused. District Attorney Tonkin noted that the investigation and subsequent sentence were critical in protecting the community from a predator who actively hunted children.
