Defendant sentenced to 25 years for rape

Aug. 02--A man has been sentenced to more than 25 years in prison for raping two children in Leavenworth, according to a prosecution official.

Christopher Jason Ellis, 43, Kansas City, Kansas, was sentenced Wednesday in Leavenworth County District Court for three counts of rape.

Ellis pleaded no contest to the charges May 25.

The crimes reportedly occurred between October 2014 and October 2016, according to court documents.

An investigation began after a child reported being sexually abused by Ellis to staff at Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri. Hospital staff contacted the Leavenworth Police Department, according to County Attorney Todd Thompson.

During the investigation, two children were identified as victims. Ellis reportedly admitted having sexual contact with both victims. He reportedly had sexual contact with one of the victims more than once.

Ellis was sentenced Wednesday to 310 months, or 25 years and 10 months, in prison. The sentence was recommended as part of a plea agreement.

Thompson said in a news release that the prosecution entered the plea agreement because Ellis had taken responsibility for his actions and did not push for a jury trial.

"Children who are victims of crimes must testify when defendants request jury trials, even the victims of sexual abuse," Thompson said in the news release. "As prosecutors in Kansas, we are very limited in our ability to prevent child victims from testifying. This plea agreement allowed the victims to get justice and avoid the trauma of testifying."

Ellis will be subject to lifetime registration and post-release supervision after he is released from prison.

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