After the victim's parents described him as the embodiment of evil, a former Carlisle Barracks resident was sentenced Monday to 30 years in federal prison for videotaping the sexual abuse he inflicted on an 18-month-old girl.

In imposing that penalty on 20-year-old Zachary Knight, U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner called the mistreatment of the tot "too monstrous and too disturbing for words."

Investigators said Knight molested the child repeatedly while babysitting her for another military family on the central Pennsylvania Army post, which is home to the U.S. Army War College. He was arrested in May 2014 and later pleaded guilty.



In tearful testimony, the girl's parents asked Conner to ensure that Knight never has the opportunity to even touch another child ever again.

The U.S. Courthouse in Harrisburg

The father stressed that his daughter would have but two requests. "She would ask, 'Protect me. Protect others like me'," he said.

The mother said she continues to feel guilty because "We let evil into our house" when they chose Knight from a list of teens eligible for babysitting at the barracks. "We felt safe in our Army community," she said. "We now know that evil can live in good communities."

Knight deceived them at every step and convinced them he was trustworthy and kind, the mother said. Even when her daughter screamed at the very sight of Knight, she and her husband blamed the child's reaction on separation anxiety. "I kick myself for not listening to my child," she said.

Knight never looked at either parent as they spoke of the horror endured by their child, who now has to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted diseases. He just stared at the top of the defense table.

The mother said only a life prison term would give society the protection from Knight that it needs.

The penalty Conner imposed, which is the mandatory minimum sentence for Knight's crimes, was recommended by Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy and defense attorney Daniel M. Myshin.

Myshin called Knight's step-father, Col. Matthew Rudy, as a witness. Rudy described Knight as an "extreme introvert" who is "always on his guard" and had been treated for psychological issues. He said Knight had been sexually abused as a child.

"He never meant to harm anybody," Rudy said. "I truly believe he can be healed."

When Conner asked Knight if he wanted to speak, Knight had Myshin read a letter on his behalf.

"He has expressed to me that he understands the severity of his conduct and the inappropriateness of his conduct," Myshin said. "With treatment, he believes he can rejoin his family and society without re-offending."

Conner said that in determining Knight's sentence, he considered the sexual abuse inflicted on Knight himself, the fact that Knight was hazed and bullied in school and his mental health issues, substance abuse problems and fixation with child pornography. The judge said he also deems Knight to be an ongoing danger to the public.

In addition to the prison term, Conner sentenced Knight to 25 years on probation following his release and set conditions that strictly curb any unsupervised contact between Knight and children.