High court won’t hear rapist’s appeal

Court in September supported the sentence of Mercer County Common Pleas Judge John C. Reed, and the Supreme Court said Wednesday it would not hear an appeal. A jury found Custer, 48, guilty of 48 counts of rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated assault and other charges. The assaults occurred between the summers of 1994 and 2000. He is serving his sentence in Somerset Custer, formerly of Sharon, called his sentence "manifestly excessive" and not tailored to his rehabilitative needs. He also challenged Reed's decision to allow the boys, who are brothers, to testify about sexual advances he made outside Pennsylvania. Superior Court said Reed's sentence was "well within" the range set by law. A three-judge panel also said Custer did not object to the sentence or ask that it be modified within a set time frame, rendering him unable to appeal now.

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