A Grand Forks District Court jury convicted a Grand Forks man today on two felony counts for sexually abusing a child.
Gerald Ray Middleton, 43, was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a child in Grand Forks from 2004 to 2009. The double-A felony carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The jury also found him guilty of corruption of a minor, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The girl was 17 when she reported the offenses in January 2010. Middleton was arrested on April 6, 2010. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $5,000 bond. He also was ordered to have no contact with the girl.
The trial started on Monday, and closing arguments were finished about noon Friday. Jurors deliberated until 7 p.m. and resumed at 10 a.m. this morning, returning with their verdicts at noon.
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Sentencing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 4, said Assistant State's Attorney Jason McCarthy, who prosecuted the case with Assistant State's Attorney Meredith Larson.
"We're extremely satisfied that the jury saw the evidence and came to the only reasonable conclusion," McCarthy said.
"We take these cases very seriously, and especially anytime a child is a victim," he said.
Reach Haga at (701) 780-1102; (800) 477-6572, ext. 102; or send email to chaga@gfherald.com .
