Jury Returns Verdict in Grape Creek Child Sex Abuse Trial

After roughly three hours and 45 minutes, a jury comprised of seven women and five men have returned a verdict in the child sex abuse trial of 33-year-old Tucker Wayne McCrea.

At approximately 6:15 p.m., members of the the victim's and defendant's families who had been waiting in the courthouse halls since just after 2:30 p.m. were called into Judge Barbara Walther's courtroom with the attorneys and defendant for the reading of the verdict. 

The victim sat between her mother and and another family member behind the defendant, held close by those on either side of her as they waited for the jury to enter. Five long minutes passed, and at 6:20, the verdict sheet was handed to the judge, who read the findings as follows: "We the jury find the defendant guilty of the charge as alleged in the indictment."

That charge is the first-degree felony offense of continuous sexual abuse of a child, which carries a minimum sentence of 25 years. 

After the verdict was read, the mother of the victim smiled and hugged her daughter, holding back emotional tears. The victim, who had appeared solemn and timid just five minutes prior, let out a sigh of relief, her face broadening in a bright, wide smile. McCrea's expression did not change after the verdict: he remained stoic and silent. 

The punishment phase is set to begin immediately, during which witnesses will be called to influence the jury on what range of punishment is appropriate. Continuous sexual abuse of a child is a first-degree felony carrying a minimum 25-year sentence and a max of 99 years or life.