COLUMBUS — A Wapakoneta man was sentenced to prison for the rest of his life Friday for raping a child.

Charles Wycuff, 54, was sentenced to four life sentences plus an additional 145 years in prison on 26 counts of rape, 12 counts of sexual battery and five counts of gross sexual imposition.

His ex-wife Lori Anderson, 51, a co-defendant in the case, pleaded guilty Oct. 5 to three counts of sexual battery, each a third-degree felony, and one count of misdemeanor obstructing official business. She is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 12 in Franklin County. She is suspended from her job without pay as a first-grade teacher at Cridersville Elementary School.

Wycuff’s case was tried in Franklin County where Auglaize County Common Pleas Judge Frederick Pepple moved the case after the victim contacted him for help.

The charges accused the two of sexually assaulting a child from 1997 to 2003. Some of the charges allege the child was younger than 13 at the time.

The judge also labeled Wycuff a sexual predator.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued a statement saying, “This defendant preyed on the young victim for years, and for that, he deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.”

DeWine said this case should serve as a reminder that abusers still can be prosecuted even if a number of years have passed.

DeWine’s office prosecuted the case after Auglaize County officials recused themselves.

Anderson’s bond was revoked after her plea. She applied to have her bond reinstated Thursday with her attorney arguing she is not a flight risk.

Her attorney, Christopher Bucio, also asked in the alternative Anderson be placed on electronic home arrest.

Anderson and Wycuff are no longer married. After they divorced each remarried other people.

Bucio blames Wycuff for Anderson’s conduct saying it was out of character and the product of mental, emotional and physical abuse exerted on her by Wycuff when they were married.