A husband and wife have been found guilty of a felony charge of endangering the welfare of a child following a three-day trial that concluded Friday in Lycoming County Court.
Gary E. Segraves, 36, and Melissa Segraves, 35, both of 62 Grandview Drive, Montgomery, were found guilty Friday evening in a trial presided over by Judge Marc F. Lovecchio.
Jurors were hung on the remaining charges against Gary Segraves, including six counts of rape by forcible compulsion, 12 counts of rape of a child, seven counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, 25 counts of indecent assault, 18 counts of statutory sexual assault, three counts of involuntary deviant sexual intercourse, and one count each of corruption of a minor and unlawful contact with a minor.
Jurors could not decide on the corruption of a minor charge against his wife.
However, Gary Segraves knowingly endangered the welfare of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support, namely by engaging in sexual activity with the child over the course of about two years. His wife did not engage in sexual activity with the child but allowed it and did not report it, according to Assistant District Attorney Mary C. Kilgus.
"In order for there to be felony endangering charges, the jury believed there was a course of conduct by the defendants that satisfied," Kilgus said.
The sexual activities took place beginning in December 2005 and continued until 2008, she said.
Defense attorneys were Kyle Rude for Gary Segraves and Scott Gardner for Melissa Segraves.
Sheriff's deputies squelched a squabble as the defendants' family allegedly harassed the victim's family outside the courtroom, Kilgus noted.
Sentencing is reserved for a later date.
