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GEORGETOWN, DEL. —
Former Lewes and Milford pediatrician Earl Bradley was found guilty Thursday afternoon on all counts stemming from the rape, assault and exploitation of more than 100 underage victims over a 10-year period.
Superior Court Judge William Carpenter Jr. announced his verdicts in front of a Georgetown Superior Courtroom that was filled with more than 60 onlookers and nearly 20 members of the Delaware Corrections Department and Capitol Police.
Bradley was found guilty of 14 counts of first-degree rape, five counts of second-degree assault and five counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Sentencing for the crimes will come Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. Each first-degree rape charge could carry with it a penalty of up to life in prison.
Neither prosecuting attorney Paula Ryan nor Attorney General Beau Biden would comment following the verdict, as both cited a court-imposed gag order that remains in effect.
During a one-day bench trial on June 7, Bradley’s public defender Dean Johnson called no witnesses nor cross-examined either of the prosecution’s two testifying Delaware State Police detectives. The only comment Johnson made during the trial was an objection to the admission of video evidence that showed Bradley raping and assaulting 86 victims. One victim is shown on four separate occasions. The average age of all the identified victims, Det. Scott Garland said during the trial, was just more than 3 years old, and included in that average was a pair of 14-year-old girls.
“After reviewing all of the evidence, including the videos, in reference to each count of rape in the first degree, the court finds that the state has met its burden [of proof],” Carpenter said. “Therefore the court finds the defendant guilty of these 14 counts.”
Carpenter read a similar statement regarding the five assault and five exploitation charges.
It is widely expected the defense will appeal the decision with hopes of the video evidence being ruled inadmissible. Johnson, who also cited the gag order, would not comment on the course of action and only spoke of Bradley’s appearance after the verdict was rendered.
“He was pretty quiet today, nothing remarkable,” Johnson said.
Former Lewes and Milford pediatrician Earl Bradley was found guilty Thursday afternoon on all counts stemming from the rape, assault and exploitation of more than 100 underage victims over a 10-year period.
Superior Court Judge William Carpenter Jr. announced his verdicts in front of a Georgetown Superior Courtroom that was filled with more than 60 onlookers and nearly 20 members of the Delaware Corrections Department and Capitol Police.
Bradley was found guilty of 14 counts of first-degree rape, five counts of second-degree assault and five counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Sentencing for the crimes will come Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. Each first-degree rape charge could carry with it a penalty of up to life in prison.
Neither prosecuting attorney Paula Ryan nor Attorney General Beau Biden would comment following the verdict, as both cited a court-imposed gag order that remains in effect.
During a one-day bench trial on June 7, Bradley’s public defender Dean Johnson called no witnesses nor cross-examined either of the prosecution’s two testifying Delaware State Police detectives. The only comment Johnson made during the trial was an objection to the admission of video evidence that showed Bradley raping and assaulting 86 victims. One victim is shown on four separate occasions. The average age of all the identified victims, Det. Scott Garland said during the trial, was just more than 3 years old, and included in that average was a pair of 14-year-old girls.
“After reviewing all of the evidence, including the videos, in reference to each count of rape in the first degree, the court finds that the state has met its burden [of proof],” Carpenter said. “Therefore the court finds the defendant guilty of these 14 counts.”
Carpenter read a similar statement regarding the five assault and five exploitation charges.
It is widely expected the defense will appeal the decision with hopes of the video evidence being ruled inadmissible. Johnson, who also cited the gag order, would not comment on the course of action and only spoke of Bradley’s appearance after the verdict was rendered.
“He was pretty quiet today, nothing remarkable,” Johnson said.
