Authorities said this Casper man repeatedly sexually abused children for years

CASPER (WNE) — A Casper man faces 28 counts of sexual abuse of a minor, child abuse and sexual exploitation of children after authorities said he repeatedly sexually abused three children between 2013 and 2020.

Joseph Crandall, 43, faces numerous counts of sexual abuse of a minor.

All 28 counts are felonies, ranging in maximum penalty from 10 to 50 years in prison.

One of Crandall’s alleged victims was a mentally disabled child who was around 15 at the time he first raped her, according to court documents.

An affidavit filed with the charges indicated she was recovering from a medical procedure at the time of the first assault.

The child denied having sexual contact with anyone other than Crandall, authorities wrote in court papers. Eleven counts relate to that child.

Crandall was initially arrested on charges relating to that child in 2017, but the child’s grandparents told her to recant her testimony and the charges were dropped, according to the affidavit.

A letter written by the child’s therapist read “it should be made clear that her evaluations have proven she is ‘easily manipulated,’” according to the filing.

The other children were roughly 13 and 9 years old at the time of the first charged incidents.

Four counts pertain to the child who was roughly 13 and the remaining 13 counts relate to the child who was around 9 years old.

Each child came forward to counselors independently, according to the affidavit. 

Crandall has been charged with 11 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, one count in the second-degree and seven counts in the third-degree. He also faces one count of child abuse, one count of sexual exploitation of children and seven other related charges.

Crandall’s next court date will be his arraignment in district court.

This story was published on Sept. 16, 2025.