CLEARFIELD – A DuBois man will serve up to 30 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl.
On Thursday, Raymond Cusick, 39, pleaded guilty to felony counts of statutory sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault before Judge Paul E. Cherry.
The charges stem from incidents beginning in 2016, continuing until 2018 and involve three victims.
According to the affidavit, the third victim described Cusick as “this guy who touched us” to investigators.
Prior to sentencing, Cusick’s attorney, Steven Johnston, read a statement from his client that claimed he had a drinking problem and explained that when he is drunk, he loses control of his actions. Cusick apologized for what he put the victims through, adding that he is grateful for the help he will get in state prison.
Johnston also argued for a lesser maximum sentence than was being recommended, stating that the community will be protected from him because he will be subject to Megan’s Law restrictions.
District Attorney Ryan Sayers responded to this by saying other people have drug and alcohol problems and don’t commit crimes like this.
“Clearly there is more to this than a substance abuse issue.”
Sayers said the recommended sentence for Cusick is appropriate because he was a babysitter who was supposed to be taking care of the victim.
He also acknowledged Cusick’s desire to not take the case to trial in respect of the victims. Sayers explained this is why the open plea agreement was for only two charges.
Cherry sentenced Cusick to a total of 10 to 30 years in state prison plus six years probation.
In addition, after testimony from William G. Allenbaugh II, an expert from the state’s sex offender assessment board, Cherry ruled that Cusick is a sexually-violent predator who will have to register with authorities for the rest of his life.
The criminal complaint in this case details how the first victim reported to investigators in August of 2019 at the Child Advocacy Center that Cusick touched her “a lot of times”.
She stated that he also touched her friend who was then only five-years-old.
During one of the assaults, Cusick reportedly put his hand down her shorts and touched her private area. At another time, he put his hand under her shirt.
This victim told her mother but her mother did not believe her.
Two months later after the first victim mentioned to a social worker that Cusick had forced her to perform a sex act on him, the victim was interviewed again.
This time she explained how Cusick came into her bedroom and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Afterwards, she went to her mother’s room to tell her, but she called the girl a liar.
He was reportedly staying at the victim’s home and sleeping on the couch at the time of the assault.
