John Wakefield, Jr.
A Columbia man was convicted by jury Wednesday of sexually assaulting a minor victim for approximately eight months with the final time being caught on video by the victim, who set a camera up to catch the defendant.
John Wakefield Jr., 48 of the first block of South 4th Street, was found guilty of statutory sexual assault – 11 years older and related charges following a three-day trial before Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright.
Wakefield Jr. 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.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Miller prosecuted the case and presented the video evidence from the camera the victim set up in a bedroom immediately prior to the final assault taking place by Wakefield Jr. The defense called witnesses that stated he was never alone with the victim, however the recording captured Wakefield Jr. in the act and was shown to the jury multiple times throughout the trial.
"It's not a he-said, she-said thing anymore," Miller said to the jury during his closing argument. "This case is in your hands now. You all have eyes. I'll let the video speak for itself."
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 is for a victim of sexual assault 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. "She did this to tell you the truth."
The defense argued penetration never happened and the defendant and his wife testified the abuse was "wrestling." On the stand, the defendant refused to clarify which wrestling moves were shown on the video stating that he couldn't demonstrate "without a bed."
Ultimately, the jury sided with the victim and deliberated less than three hours before returning the guilty verdict. Wakefield Jr. awaits sentencing to occur following a presentence and Megan's Law evaluation.
Columbia Borough Police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges and testified.
