Friday, June 25, 2010

Dad gets 50 years for attempted murder, sexual assault of 7-month-old daughter; was 1st weekend of visitation (Monticello, New York)

Dad CORY CLARKE has been sentenced to 50 years to life for sexually abusing his 7-month-old daughter and leaving her in the woods to die. We first posted on this case last summer, right after the initial news reports. Though it's not mentioned here, this "incident" took place during Dady's very first weekend of visitation with his two children.

So what judge gave this animal visitation rights? Show of hands? Anyone?

Hat tip to S.

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100625/NEWS/100629842

Clarke gets 50 years to life for attempted murder, sexual assault on his child
Published: 12:08 PM - 06/25/10
Last updated: 1:45 PM - 06/25/10

MONTICELLO — Cory Clarke was sentenced to 50 years to life Friday for sexually abusing his 7-month old daughter and then leaving her in the woods to die on July 4.

Clarke, 27, will not be eligible for parole until he is 78.

Sullivan County Judge Frank LaBuda, in sentencing Clarke Friday, several times called him “evil incarnate.”

Clark was convicted in March of attempted murder, first-degree predatory sexual abuse on a child, incest and other first-degree felony sex crimes.

Clarke reported the baby missing to a Walmart employee. He maintained that the baby was snatched while he was changing her brother in a bathroom.

District Attorney Jim Farrell called Clarke's story preposterous, hammering home in his closing statements that DNA evidence conclusively proved the sexual assault and video cameras inside Walmart ruled out an abduction. He told the jury that Clarke planned to dump the baby and concoct a story to cover the sex abuse.

Farrell showed the jury a graphic photo demonstrating damage done to the baby, and the baby's blood-stained diaper. Clarke, who had visitation rights, had to return the baby to the mother on the Monday after a weekend visit and would have been discovered, Farrell said.

Clarke's attorney, Fred Neroni said he plans to appeal.