FREDERICK, Maryland -- A Howard County Circuit Court jury in the Maryland School for the Deaf sex abuse case handed down a mixed result Wedneday, finding the defendant guilty of two charges of child sexual abuse, not guilty of one count and declaring a mistrial in the four remaining counts.
Clarence Cepheus Taylor III, 38, was found guilty by the 12-member jury, who began deliberations Friday, of groping two girls while working as an aide at the school from 2008 to 2011.
Taylor, who is Deaf, had his bond revoked by Judge William Tucker and is scheduled to be sentenced on the two guilty verdicts on Jan. 31, 2014, with a retrial on the four non-decision counts scheduled for May 21, 2014.
A split verdict is reached by jurors and a mistrial is declared by the judge for some charges in the Howard County sexual abuse trial of a former aide for the Maryland School for the Deaf. Barry Simms files this report on 11 News at Noon.
Earlier in the trial, three counts of solicitation of child pornography were dropped by the State's Attorney's office after the prosecution could not prove the events happened in Howard County.
Those charges accused Taylor of text messaging three of the students and requesting pictures of their breasts, according to the prosecution.
Taylor faces a maximum of 50 years in prison 25 years for each guilty count. According to prosecutor and Assistant State's Attorney Lisa Broten, the state's recommendations for such convictions usually fall between seven and 13 years per count.
As Taylor was handcuffed after his bond was revoked, his wife, who is on leave from her employment at the school, left the courtroom fighthing tears.
A split verdict was reached in the sexual abuse trial of a former aide for the Maryland School for the Deaf, prompting the Howard County judge to call a mistrial for some charges.
Taylor's defense attorney, Brandon Mead, said he recommended Taylor file an appeal, citing Tucker's jury instructions... Read The Full Story.
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