Friday, August 15, 2003
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Friday, August 15, 2003 |
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Man sentenced to 50 years in prison for molesting girl at his Fayette home By JOHN
MUNFORD
A Peachtree City man was convicted Thursday of molesting a Dallas, Ga., girl at his former Fayette residence during a span of nearly three years that began when she was 11 years old. Craig Steven Ferrill, 43, was found guilty of three counts of aggravated child molestation and one count each of statutory rape, aggravated sexual battery and child molestation. He was also found guilty of singular counts of possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of marijuana and possession of methamphetamine relating to contraband found during execution of a search warrant at his home. The jury found Ferrill not guilty of enticing a child for indecent purposes. Superior Court Judge Johnnie L. Caldwell Jr. sentenced Ferrill to 50 years in prison after the jury rendered its verdict. The victim, now 19, testified during the trial that Ferrill molested her "numerous times" at his former residence in south Fayette County. Among evidence logged at the trial was a videotape depicting Ferrill and his wife engaged in sexual conduct with another couple. The victim told police that Ferrill had showed her that tape on several occasions, and the tape was found at the Ferrills' residence when detectives with the Fayette County Sheriff's Department served a search warrant there, officials said. Ferrill's wife, Penny, and his son, Craig Jr., both testified that Ferrill never molested the victim, who is now 19. Ferrill himself declined to take the stand in his own defense. The victim testified that most of the incidents took place in the basement of the Ferrills' residence when she and her family would spend the night there on the weekends. Craig Jr., now 17, said he always slept in the basement each weekend and never saw any inappropriate conduct from his father toward the victim. In closing arguments, assistant district attorney Dan Hiatt said Penny Ferrill was caught lying on the stand. Mrs. Ferrill had testified that her husband was unable to perform sexually after an auto accident in 1997, near the end of the time period authorities claim the incidents took place. But prosecutors produced e-mails from the Ferrills to other couples that indicated Ferrill was able to perform sexually. Ferrill's attorney, Tom Cook, said the victim "is the only person who says this sexual contact occurred" and he pointed out there was no physical evidence introduced in the case. Cook said the victim never attempted to stay away from the Ferrills' home when her family would visit. Cook also alleged the prosecution entered the video into evidence and played it for over an hour and a half for the jury to "slam" the Ferrills. The victim previously testified that Ferrill would sometimes molest her with other children present, hiding the activity under a blanket. The assaults would usually take place after everyone in the house was asleep, the victim added. "I was scared of him but at the same time I trusted him and I didn't realize that was wrong," the victim said. Later, she added that Ferrill told her, "If I ever told, it would flip my world upside down. ... He never threatened me but he did make it very clear that I could never tell." The victim told her mother about the incidents last year during an argument, she said.
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