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Former Washington man guilty of sex crimes

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Former Washington resident James T. Montgomery was found guilty Friday of aggravated indecent assault of a child and other charges after a two-day jury trial before Washington County Judge Valarie Costanzo.

Montgomery, 38, was accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl over the course of four years at a home on Arch Street in Washington. Court documents indicate the abuse began in 2004. Deputy District Attorney Traci McDonald-Kemp said the abuse stopped when the girl turned 8, and that the girl reported the abuse last year after undergoing counseling.

McDonald-Kemp said the defense argued the victim falsely accused Montgomery in retaliation. Montgomery’s attorney, Owen Seman, said the sexual assault “simply didn’t happen.”

“We are extremely disappointed in the outcome. The family and my client are devastated,” Seman said Monday. “Anytime you have allegations that are 10 years old you have to question their credibility.”

Seman said he plans to file an appeal after Montgomery is sentenced May 1.

Montgomery,whose last known address is listed as Canal Winchester, Ohio, was also found guilty of two counts of involuntary deviate sexual assault, indecent assault of a person less than 13 years of age, corruption of minors and indecent exposure. He was arrested in March.

McDonald-Kemp said Montgomery faces between 20 and 40 years in a state prison for each count of involuntary deviate sexual assault.

Montgomery was free on a $100,000 bond. He was taken into custody Friday and remains in Washington County jail.

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