Published: April 03, 2007 10:22 am         

Jury says 15 years in abuse decision

• Stillwater man guilty of molesting stepdaughter, 5

A Payne County jury handed down a 15-year prison sentence recommendation Monday for a former Stillwater resident charged with molesting his 5-year-old stepdaughter.

Brian E. McDaniel was accused of attempted rape in June 2005. He was bound over on one count of lewd molestation last June. The jury deliberated 45 minutes Monday before returning the guilty verdict and the sentence recommendation.

“Details in cases like these are always disturbing,” Payne County District Attorney Robert L. Hudson said in a statement. “However, verdicts like the one today are the reason we do this job — to find justice for the smallest victims.”

Hudson added that this verdict was particularly satisfying because April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and there are few crimes as heinous as child sexual abuse.

“Stillwater Police Detective Greg Miller and Assistant District Attorney Tom Lee did an extraordinary job in this case,” he added in the statement. “The victim and her family should also be commended for their courage to stand up to this perpetrator.”

McDaniel is also facing first-degree rape charges in Major County. He was remanded to the Payne County Jail to await formal sentencing May 4 at 9 a.m. in Payne County District Court.

     

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