A 27-year-old Raymond man will spend the next three years in prison for an illicit relationship with a 14-year-old girl from South Casco.
Joshua Perry, of 86 Raymond Cape Road, received the sentence, followed by five years probation, from Judge Donald Marden on Tuesday. The sentencing followed Perry’s conviction in December for sexual abuse of a minor, violation of protection from abuse, false public alarm or report, furnishing liquor to a minor and furnishing a place for minors to consume liquor.
In a phone interview Thursday morning, Perry’s lawyer, Timothy Zerillo, said his client will definitely appeal the guilty verdict and may appeal the sentence. The law gives Zerillo 21 days after sentencing in which to make the decision to appeal.
“The judge did sentence him to consecutive sentences,” Zerillo said. “Normally, if you have a group of crimes charged together they run concurrently.”
Perry’s relationship with the girl began a year ago January when they met on an Internet site called MySpace.com. At that time, she lied about her age, listing it as 19.
Under increasing scrutiny for the dangers it poses to teens, MySpace.com contains personal profiles and Web pages for its members and has one of the highest user rates of any Internet address.
By the time the first complaint had been filed against him, in mid-March, Perry and the girl had begun a sexual relationship. When her mother found out, she filed an order of protection against him.
It took the sheriff’s deputy several days and numerous attempts to serve Perry with the order because he would not come to the door.
In early April, about two weeks after Perry had been served, he was arrested for violation of the order. At the time the arrest was made, Perry claimed he needed to go because his father was having a heart attack. Perry was taken into custody and the deputy summoned Raymond Fire and Rescue to the Cape Road residence to aid the father.
When they arrived, the EMTs found Perry’s father listening to music with no idea why they had been called. As a result, the charge of false public alarm or report was added to Perry’s list of offenses.
Throughout Perry’s trial, he maintained he never knew the girl was only 14. But Cumberland County District Attorney Stephanie Anderson argued that Perry eventually discovered her real age, yet continued the relationship.
At Tuesday’s sentencing, several young women were present in the courtroom who had previous relationships with Perry.
Although rules at sentencing are more relaxed than during a trial, Zerillo said he “thought (the young women) needed to be cross-examined but that was not allowed.” Zerillo said this incident might contribute to his decision on whether or not to appeal the sentencing.
Joshua Perry, 27, of Raymond, was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor. Perry met the young woman on MySpace.com.Send questions/comments to the editors.
