LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — A Lancaster County man was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of sexually assaulting a minor for approximately eight months.
John Wakefield Jr., 48, was found guilty of statutory sexual assault- 11 years older and related charges following a three-day trial, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office. He was also found guilty of indecent assault of a person less than 16, endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors and indecent assault of a person less than 16.
The victim caught the final assault on video by setting up a camera to catch the defendant.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller prosecuted the case and presented the video evidence from the camera the victim set up in the bedroom before the final assault.
The defense called witnesses that stated Wakefield Jr. was never along with the victim, however, the recording reportedly captured him in the act and was shown to the jury multiple times throughout the trial.
The victim, who was 16 at the time, disclosed the abuse spanned from Feb. 2022 until Sept. 2022 and provided the recording to a neighbor, who called police to report the incident.
Miller spoke on how difficult it was for the victim to testify about the abuse to a room full of strangers in court and detail the specifics to investigators.
“[The victim] didn’t go through all of this to lie to you,” Miller said to the jury. “[They] did this to tell you the truth.”
The defense argued penetration never happened and Wakefield Jr. and his wife testified the abuse was “wrestling.”
On the stand, however, Wakefield Jr. refused to clarify which wrestling moves were shown on the video stating that he couldn’t demonstrate “without a bed.”
Ultimately, the jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning the guilty verdict.
Wakefield Jr. awaits sentencing, following a presentence and Megan's Law evaluation.
