Sex offenders found guilty
Jury trials held last week
Wanda English Burnett, Editor
Two Ripley County men were found guilty last week of sex crimes.
A jury trial began on May 9 for Augustus Comello, 26, of Sunman for the crime of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a Class B felony. He had already been found guilty after a bench trial on March 22, 2004 in the same court - Ripley County Circuit. The Indiana Court of Appeals reversed that conviction and granted Comello a new trial saying he had not properly waived his right to a jury trial.

During the two-day trial, jurors heard the defendant’s pleas that he did not know the child he had sexual intercourse with was only 14 years old at the time. But, the jury did not agree and found him guilty. He faces a range of imprisonment of six to 20 years.

Deputy Prosecutor Lynn Fledderman commended the victim for her courage to have to endure two trials. She noted that “she had a very difficult task given the length of time since the last trial and having to face her perpetrator again.”

Comello will be sentenced on May 31.

On Friday, May 12, a Ripley County Superior Court jury found Aaron D. Norman Sr., 56, of Milan, guilty of Sexual Battery after a two-day trial. During the course of the trial, the victim testified that Norman forced himself on her at his residence.

It took the jury a little less than an hour to find the defendant guilty of Sexual Battery. Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ryan King asked the court to remand Norman to the Ripley County Jail. Sentencing is set for June 12. Norman could face up to three years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Prosecutor Ric Hertel complimented both deputy prosecutors for their dedication to these cases. He noted, “...these prosecutors are the last line of defense for victims of crime and both of them have devoted countless hours of effort, energy, and time to that end.”

Hertel concluded by saying that convicting two sex offenders in one week in separate jury trials is sending a message to others that there will be accountability for these sort of crimes.