WHEELING - Jessica Morris is facing 91-215 years in prison after being convicted Friday on 11 counts of sexual misconduct involving her daughter.
A jury of nine men and three women deliberated for two hours and 45 minutes before finding Morris guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree sexual assault, three counts of first-degree sexual assault, four counts of sexual abuse by a parent and three counts of incest.
During the three-day trial, the now 9-year-old victim took the stand, as did expert witnesses in the field of child psychology and counseling, the child's foster parents and Morris.
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JESSICA MORRIS
Testimony revealed that the victim disclosed to child psychologists and counselors that she had been sexually assaulted numerous times by her mother and her mother's boyfriend, Jack Jones.
According to the testimony, the child was molested when she was as young as 3 years old. The assaults included having Morris perform sex acts on the child, allegedly in conjunction with Jones; having the child perform sex acts on Morris and allegedly Jones; and Morris holding the child down while Jones allegedly performed a sex act on her.
Morris denied all accusations against her and said she would never allow Jones or anyone else to assault her daughter.
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NEXT TRIAL
Jessica Morris' boyfriend, Jack Jones, will go on trial in December on charges that he took part in the sexual assault of Morris' daughter.
Assistant Ohio County Prosecutor Gail Kahle, who worked the trial with Assistant Prosecutor Jenna Wood, said his calculations show Morris could face from 91 to 215 years in prison.
Morris appeared to be surprised as Circuit Court Judge James Mazzone read the verdicts, but she maintained her composure as she was led out of the courtroom by Ohio County sheriff's deputies en route to the Northern Regional Jail.
Earlier in the day, defense attorney Michael Alberty presented two expert witnesses.
Dr. Michael Crabtree, a private practice psychologist and professor of psychology at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., told the jury he did not believe the child's memories of events were credible because some of the alleged assaults occurred before the child had the capacity to develop a memory.
Dr. David Mosman, a pediatrician at Wheeling Hospital, testified he examined the child in November 2004 for tonsillitis but did not perform any evaluation relevant to sexual assault. He said other doctors in his medical group examined the child six times between 2003 and 2006 for pediatrician issues and there was no indication of assault.