Kenneth R. Sanwald, 35, of Morton, was sentenced to 13 years and four months — up to a maximum of life — in prison earlier this month after being convicted of one count each of first-degree rape of a child and first-degree child molestation.
Sanwald pleaded guilty to the two counts by way of an Alford plea on Feb. 6, prior to his sentencing on March 4, according to court documents.
Three additional counts were ultimately dropped.
Alford pleas are considered guilty pleas that acknowledge the prosecution’s likely ability to secure a conviction in a trial. They do not, however, serve as an official admission of guilt from the defendant.
Sanwald must also serve a lifetime of community custody, register as a sex offender and participate in sexual deviancy treatment as part of his sentence.
A pre-sentence investigation report conducted by the state Department of Corrections noted that a family member of the victim believed Sanwald should receive the maximum sentence.
Prosecutors and Sanwald’s defense agreed to recommend the high end of the standard sentence range for both counts, in this case 160 months to life for first-degree child rape and 89 months to life for first-degree child molestation.
These ranges are calculated based on the defendant’s criminal history and the severity of the crimes. Sanwald had no known criminal history prior to his conviction.
The sentences for each count will run concurrently.
Sanwald originally faced up to life in prison after being accused of committing child rape over the course of two years, from 2022 to 2024.
According to previous Chronicle reporting, law enforcement became aware of the offenses in October 2024 when the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a possible rape in Morton. A forensic interview was conducted at the Youth Advocacy Center in November 2024.
Sanwald was officially charged with the crimes on Sept. 25, 2025. An arrest warrant was issued that day with a bail amount of $25,000.
On Oct. 8, 2025, Sanwald was arrested and booked into Lewis County Jail. He made his preliminary appearance in Lewis County Superior Court the following day.
