A North Carolina man was recently convicted by jury in Lancaster County Court on all charges stemming from the abuse of four victims at homes on South Lime and South Duke Streets during a two-year span from 2007 to 2009.

Angel Merced, 53 of Mecklenburg, was found guilty of three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, seven counts of aggravated indecent assault, four counts of indecent assault, and four counts of corruption of minors following a three-day trial ending Wednesday of last week.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Detective Jessica Higgins received a sex offense report in August of 2018 and began to investigate.

One of the victims had written in a school notebook about being sexually abused, which an adult read and reported. The four victims ranged in age from 6 to 12.

In his closing argument, prosecuting Assistant District Attorney Fritz Haverstick said, “The difference between justice and getting away with sexually abusing four little girls—a teenager’s school notebook and a police officer who was dedicated enough, who cared enough to put in the work, to do it the right way.”

Detective Higgins spoke with each of the victims on multiple occasions and filed charges, which were approved by ADA Haverstick in 2020.

Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker presided over the trial and will determine sentence at a later date.

The jury returned its verdict after less than two hours of deliberations.

YWCA Lancaster runs a 24-hour sexual assault hotline, 717-392-7273, that connects callers to free, confidential counseling and therapy services for community members impacted by sexual abuse, harassment, or assault.

Lancaster County's designated rape crisis center at the YWCA Lancaster provides no cost counseling and therapy for survivors and significant others impacted by sexual abuse, harassment, or assault. Contact 717-869-5009 or wehearyou@ywcalancaster.org for more information or to schedule an appointment.