Phoenix man receives six life sentences for child sexual abuse

PHOENIX – A Phoenix man convicted of sexually abusing his daughter and stepdaughter was sentenced Friday to six life terms plus an additional 73 years in prison, authorities said.

Samuel Rhyner, 43, received a life sentence for each count of sexual intercourse with a minor, five years for one count of sexual abuse and a total of 34 years for child abduction and child abuse, according to a press release from the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office. The total sentence is 283 years.

Rhyner was found guilty earlier this year.

How was the sexually abusive father caught?

In June 2020, a family member told police that Rhyner sexually abused the two girls throughout their childhood, prosecutors said. One of the victims was 4 years old when the abuse began.

According to online court records, Rhyner was arrested in April 2021.

One of the victims spoke at the sentencing on Friday and described in detail the trauma caused by the abuse.

“I have scars on my body and even more on my soul,” said the victim. “He was supposed to be my protector, but instead he chose to take away my innocence. He will never understand how much he hurt me.”

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