In a recent trial that has resonated with the local community, a St. Louis jury found 43-year-old Terry Garey guilty on multiple counts related to the sexual assault of two young girls. According to details released from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office, Garey was convicted on Wednesday of three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, one count of attempted statutory sodomy, and one count of child molestation.
The abuses, which took place in the Carondelet and Baden neighborhoods, involved Garey forcing the girls, who were 5 and 7 years old at the time, to perform sexual acts. Reports state that he also inappropriately touched one of the victims. The severity of the crimes has led the jury to classify Garey as a predatory sexual offender, a designation that in Missouri, carries a mandatory life sentence.
The convictions come as a purported measure of justice for the victims. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore commented on the case, stating, "This was a betrayal of trust. Children deserve safety and protection, and this defendant took that from them. Our office is committed to ensuring that those who commit such horrific acts are held fully accountable under the law," as reported by the Circuit Attorney's website.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Circuit Attorneys Rondalyn McDonald-Harris and Carolyn Chkautovich. The legal proceedings have now progressed to the sentencing phase, with Garey's sentencing scheduled for June 27.
