GUILFORD – A 17-year-old Guilford resident was tried and convicted as an adult in town court Friday, with a jury finding him guilty of 11 misdemeanor sex crimes against a 12-year-old girl.
Six Town of Guilford jurors convicted Ryan A. Macpherson of four counts of second degree sexual abuse and seven counts of sexual misconduct after about 45 minutes of deliberation.
Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese said each charge carried with it a possible sentence of one year in the Chenango County Correctional Facility, but explained state law only allows a maximum sentence of two years total in misdemeanor prosecutions.
When he was originally arrested by the New York State Police in May, Macpherson was charged with third degree incest, a felony, and sexual misconduct, since the victim in the case was a relative.
The ADA said police began investigating the crimes after the 12-year-old victim sought suicide counseling and disclosed the incidents in a sexual assault questionnaire.
According to Ferrarese, the crimes involved non-consensual intercourse and molestation between September 2009 and February 2010.
During the trial victim was called to testify in the case, which presented no physical evidence.
“From the beginning this was a case of her word against his. I knew much of my case depended on if the jury found the victim’s testimony credible and they obviously did,” said Ferrarese.
