Wellsville man sent to state prison for 12 years for raping a child

A Wellsville man will spend 12 years in state prison for raping a child under the age of 13. In an Allegany County courtroom Thursday, 27-year-old Jeffrey Howell Jr. of Wellsville was committed to prison for more than a decade for raping a child. Facing numerous counts, Howell was convicted of first-degree rape, a class B felony. The crimes happened in June and September in 2018. Judge Terry Parker also sentenced Howell to 20 years post release supervision, a $1,000 sex offender surcharge and issued an order of protection until 2024. The case was prosecutor by Assistant DA Mike Finn. Howell was represented by Barb Kelley, the Public Defender.