From the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office:
Ralph Matthews, age 50, formerly of Dundalk, Maryland was sentenced May 24 by Judge Stephen M. Waldron of the Circuit Court for Harford County to serve 48 years in the Division of Corrections for two counts of child abuse and two counts of a third degree sex offense. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The offenses occurred in 2000-2002 when the child victim was 5 and 6 years old, and the family was residing in Aberdeen, Maryland. The child victim, now 15, came forward with the abuse after her mother and the defendant separated. She disclosed that the sexual abuse began when she was 5 years old and continued until she was 14.
The family moved from Harford County to Baltimore County during this period of time and the abuse also occurred in Baltimore County. Charges are pending against the defendant in Baltimore County.
The case went to trial and the jury returned guilty verdicts on February 28, 2011. The Defendant was being held at the Harford County Detention Center pending trial and sentencing. The case was investigated by the Harford County Child Advocacy Center and the Aberdeen Police Department. Questions should be directed to State’s Attorney Joe Cassilly 410-638-3500
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