Trio found guilty of rape, other charges
Peabody residents Terry Bowen, Lora Gay, and Kenneth Frederick II were all found guilty of two counts of rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, and aggravated kidnapping of a then-14-year-old Peabody girl in June 2010.
They were found not guilty of battery.
It took the jury more than 16 hours to come to their decision, beginning deliberation at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday.
At 5:30 p.m., Chief Judge Michael Powers sent a note to the jury, asking if they wanted to adjourn for the day or continue deliberations. The jury wanted to resolve the matter Wednesday.
At 10:45 p.m., the jury sent word that they were close to making a decision but more time passed.
The jury requested the legal definition of “confinement” at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. The three defendants and attorneys were summoned to the courtroom to discuss the question. After hearing arguments from the prosecution to provide the definition and from the defense to deny the request, Powers overruled the defense and agreed to provide the information.
Another note came from the jury at 12:45 a.m. with a verdict at 1:15 a.m.
As clerk Jan Helmer read the verdicts, there was no emotion from the defendants.
Nine law enforcement officers were on hand to escort the jury and families of the defendants from the building. The defendants were returned to the jail.
A pre-sentence hearing will be 11 a.m. Aug. 9.
A complete story will be in the next edition of the newspaper.