Man pleads guilty, sentenced in standoff, sex cases
An Ellsworth man accused of holding police at bay in a 19-hour standoff and having sex with a 15-year-old girl was sentenced Monday to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 years in prison.
A jury was scheduled to be selected to hear the cases against Joe Carl Cunningham before Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo. Instead, Cunningham pleaded guilty to burglary, aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and corruption of minors.
Cunningham, 48, was accused in two separate cases.
On Feb. 14, Cunningham was involved in a standoff with police at the 36 Oak St. home in Ellsworth he and his wife of 13 years, Crystal Cunningham, once shared. He had taken his stepdaughter hostage.
The standoff ended peacefully with Cunningham’s surrender. That same day, Crystal Cunningham filed for, and was granted, a temporary protection-from-abuse order designed to protect her and her three children from Joe Cunningham.
Later that month, at Cunningham’s preliminary hearing on the standoff charges, the district attorney’s office brought charges against him for having sex with a 15-year-old girl on several occasions dating to Feb. 1, 2013. He also was accused of using his phone to photograph and videotape the girl in several stages of undress, court documents stated.
Washington County Assistant District Attorney Kristin Clingerman said the sex charges were in the works before the standoff.
In the wake of the standoff, Crystal Cunningham’s boyfriend, Jason Anderson, told police Cunningham was upset because he was no longer allowed to see his children. Joe and Crystal Cunningham had two children together, in addition to his stepdaughter.
Cunningham also was sentenced Monday to 10 years of probation after his prison sentence is satisfied. Cunningham must report as a Megan’s Law offender for the remainder of his life and undergo an evaluation to determine if he is a sexually violent predator.
Clingerman said she was pleased with the outcome of both cases.
“The plea was in the best interest of the child,” she said. “His lengthy prison term will allow her to grow up and heal.”
Cunningham’s attorney, Chris Blackwell, could not be reached for comment.
Cunningham was transferred to a state correctional facility.