Rape of Juvenile Sends Local Man to Prison for 80 Years
February 24th, 2022 by Joe Burgess
A 39-year-old Monticello man was convicted by Drew County jury, Thursday, for the ongoing rape of a juvenile relative.
Gary Murphy faced one charge of rape, based on the fact that the victim was below the age of 14.
The other charge of rape was because he had a “caretakers responsibility,” when she was at his residence.
Both charges had different dates listed in court records.
Although the acts were described by the victim as having gone on for years, most of the testimony was based on the last weekend that she spent with Murphy and his family.
Drew County Sheriffs Department investigator Rick Harvey testified about a bag of evidence that he found in a camper behind their home, that included a used condom, which the Arkansas state crime lab staff testified was tested for DNA; finding his DNA inside of it, and the victim’s DNA on the outside.
After the state rested their case, the defense called several of Murphy’s relatives and neighbors, who described the events that took place at the residence and surrounding area the last weekend that the victim stayed there. Most of the testimony focused on when everyone went to bed, who slept where, and who was the last one to go to bed. Testimonies at this point varied, widely.
At one point Murphy‘s wife told officers that she knew about a specific act that Murphy had been doing (not related to the victim) in a camper behind their home. The prosecutor then told her that Murphy had told police she didn’t know about that act. The prosecutor then asked her if he was lying or if she was lying. She eventually responded, “I am.”
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After hearing several hours of testimony, it took the jury 20 minutes to find Murphy guilty of both charges of rape.
It then took them just 15 minutes to come back with the sentencing decision, giving Murphy two consecutive 40 year terms in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
All these charges require a minimum of 70% to be served before there is any eligibility for parole, which means he will re-be required to serve at least 56 years in ADC.
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