MAN GUILTY OF RAPING HIS GIRLFRIEND’S TEEN COUSIN

Maurice Ward Victimizes the Same Family Twice—Faces Minimum of 25 Years

Fulton County District Attorney Paul L. Howard, Jr. announces the conviction Monday of 42-year-old Maurice Ward on one count of rape. The East Point resident was found guilty by a Fulton Superior Court jury of raping his girlfriend’s 15-year-old cousin August 30, 2006. The defendant, a friend of the family, had been called to drive the teen from a friend’s house to her great-aunt’s home. He made an excuse to stop by his home, brought her inside and raped her.

Ward’s defense was that the victim was never there. She, however, was able to describe the layout and contents. Additionally, phone records introduced into evidence by Assistant District Attorney Lawanda Hodges also confirmed the victim’s testimony that she had placed calls to a girlfriend while in the defendant’s home. The victim told the jury the defendant offered her $150 not to tell what he had done.

The rape of the 15-year-old led an older sister—who is now in the U. S. Navy—to reveal that Ward had enticed her into having sex with him by offering her money when she was 14-years-old. Her testimony was allowed as a similar transaction.

ADA Hodges was assisted in the investigation and prosecution of this case by Senior Assistant ADA Kimberly Esmond Adams, East Point Police Detective K. Ralls, Fulton DA Investigator Henry Crispin and Fulton Victim-Witness Advocate Monique Massey. The case was tried before Superior Court Judge Bensonetta Tipton Lane who will impose sentence on Monday, February 26th at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1-D.

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us