A Washington County jury found Richard A. Harris guilty of multiple felony sex crimes against a child last week, and a Superior Court judge handed down a 50-to-70-year prison sentence Wednesday, April 1, in a case that had wound through the courts since 2022.
Judge William Wolfe of District 7C, based in Wilson and Edgecombe counties, presided over the sentencing for crimes committed against a child under the age of 13.
The case centered on a series of sexual assaults that began in October 2021 and continued through March 2022. Harris served as a substitute parent and custodian to the young victim, whose specific age is being withheld for her protection. The jury returned guilty verdicts on five felony counts: statutory rape of a child by an adult, statutory sex offense of a child by an adult, crime against nature, indecent liberties...
