On November 21, 2018, Judge Deborah E. Curcillo sentenced Aaron Raymond, age 40, to serve 10 to 20 years in a state penitentiary for a 2017 sexual assault incident.  The Harrisburg Bureau of Police charged Raymond after a 16 year old girl reported that the defendant had attempted to kiss her and touched her in a sexual manner.  The charges included aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and unlawful contact with a minor.  During the sentencing hearing, the defendant claimed that alcohol played a role in his criminal behavior.  The defendant had a prior 2002 misdemeanor conviction for indecent assault for which he received a term of probation.  The Pennsylvania Sexual Offender’s Board determined that while the defendant should be a lifetime registrant for purposes of Megan’s Law but should not be classified a sexually violent predator.  During his prison term and upon any parole, the defendant must undergo sexual offender’s treatment, drug and alcohol counselling and be subject to all conditions for sexual offenders. 

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gettle, who prosecuted the case, praised the victim and the police for the justice achieved. “The Commonwealth credits the victim with coming forward to alert the police to this situation immediately after it happened.  That allowed the police to apprehend the defendant within hours of the assault and secure evidence which might have been otherwise lost.  The sentence Judge Curcillo imposed recognizes the serious nature of the defendant’s conduct and hopefully protects others in the future.”

Affiant: Jeremy Crist, Harrisburg Bureau of Police

Prosecutor: Jennifer Gettle, Chief Deputy District Attorney