La Plata, MD- A repeat sex offender in Charles County is now facing life in prison after being convicted on several counts relating to child sex abuse.
Lafayette Remoine Crutchfield, 44 of La Plata, was charged with sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sexual offense and two counts of third-degree sexual offense. On Tuesday, Feb. 27, after two days of testimony, a jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before finding Crutchfield guilty of the charges.
Crutchfield was charged after a 14-year girl reported the abuse to a teacher in January of 2017. The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Department of Social Services immediately investigated Crutchfield. That investigation revealed a string of text messages Crutchfield sent to the victim’s cell phone, which corroborated her account of the abuse.
The text messages revealed there were times in which Crutchfield had inappropriate contact with the victim in her bedroom. Each time the he apologized to the victim. The text messages date back to April 2016.
During closing arguments, Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah Freeman told the jury, “the defendant preyed on the victim’s need to have a father in her life; he pretended to support and care for her simply to fulfill his own twisted sexual desires.”
In 1999, Crutchfield pleaded guilty and was convicted of child abuse in Montgomery County.
A sentencing date has been set for April 10.
Originally Posted on The Baynet:
http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0318/childsexoffenderconvicted.html