Lee convicted in sexual abuse case
Published 10:50 pm Thursday, February 12, 2009
After a two-day trial, a Troy man was convicted Wednesday of sexually abusing a child less than 3 years old.
The jury trial began in the Pike County Circuit Court Tuesday, after Kerry Lee was accused of sexually abusing his daughter in August 2007.
Lee is not the child’s biological father.
Pike County Assistant District Attorney Scheryll Harrison, who tried the case for the state, said she is satisfied with the verdict.
Lee will be sentenced at a later date. He remained out of jail on bond Wednesday.
The state heard testimony from two local counselors, a nurse and the victim from the prosecution.
Mona Watson, a counselor with the Child Advocacy Center, and Tera Bradley, a private practice psychologist, both testified to interviewing the child after the incident, and their stories coincided when told to the jury, Harrison said.
In addition, the jury saw video of the counselors interviewing the victim
Cindy Woodham, a nurse with Flowers Hospital, testified to examining the child after the incident and presented medical evidence to the court.
Lee, represented by attorney Bill Kominos, denied his actions all through the trial. So did the mother of the victim, even though she previously submitted an interview with Troy Police explaining her daughter’s side of the story.
In her testimony, the mother said her daughter had recanted her statement.
Harrison said the sentence for sexual abuse first degree requires a minimum sentence of 10 years.
Kominos could not be reached for comment before the time of press.