De Soto Man Receives Hard 25 Life Sentence for Aggravated Sodomy of a Child

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Kenneth W. Mills, 36, of De Soto, was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility for parole for 25 years for criminal sodomy of a three- to four-year-old at the time of offense.

In August, a jury convicted Mills of engaging in sexual contact with a female child who was under his care and residing in his Lawrence home in 2010 and 2011.

“Children are among the most vulnerable in our community,” District Attorney Valdez said. “Perpetrators never get to define the time, place or manner in which their victims disclose the assaults. These are always difficult cases and we will continue to pursue them to the best of our ability in order to uphold justice and community safety.”

The State was represented by Deputy District Attorney Joshua Seiden. The case was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

If ever released from prison, Mills is ordered to register as a sex offender for life and would be on lifetime parole.