BATAVIA — A Batavia man faces up to life in prison after a Genesee County Court jury found him guilty of repeatedly raping children.
The jury deliberated two days before reaching a verdict late Tuesday afternoon in the trial of Melvin A. Huntley, 40, of Wilkinson Road.
Huntley was found guilty of three counts of predatory sexual assault against a child, two counts of first-degree rape, five counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
He was found not guilty of five other charges of first-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse and second-degree rape.
The most severe convictions are for predatory sexual assault, a class AI felony. The conviction carries a maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison.
Huntley was first arrested in July 2021 after a Genesee County sheriff’s investigation allegedly revealed he sexually assaulted a child under 11 from September 2014 to September 2019.
Further investigation revealed three more victims, all under 17 and all involving repeated acts of sexual assault.
In March, a Genesee County grand jury filed a 25-count indictment against Huntley.
The trial lasted seven days.
“We are very gratified by the jury’s verdict,” prosecutor Robert Zickl said. “(The verdict) was made possible by an excellent investigation by the Sheriff’s Department headed up by Investigator Howard Carlson, tremendous victim support by Theresa Roth and the CAC, and most importantly, the courage of the four victims who testified at trial.”
Huntley will remain in Genesee County Jail without bail pending sentencing Jan. 11.
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