Former J.P. McCaskey Gospel Choir Director Norman McMillan is found guilty of having a sexual relationship with one of his students.
He was found guilty on 5 counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, 4 counts of Statutory Sexual Assault, 1 count of Indecent Assault and 1 count of Corruption of Minors.
Norman McMillan, now 27, took the stand this morning. He admitted to having oral sex and sexual intercourse with a student in his choir; however, he says he did not know the student was only 15 years old at the time of their relationship. McMillan admitted to performing sexual acts on the student inside his office at McCaskey High School after a choir concert. McMillan, then 23, said he would drive the victim to and from school and, occasionally, give her a driving lesson in the parking lot behind McCaskey. The defendant insisted he thought the victim was 16 years old. The couple's relationship allegedly spanned from November of 2005 through June of 2006.
Both the jury and the Commonwealth did not believe McMillan's actions were an honest mistake.
"He used his position to single her out, to target her. He knew what he was doing was wrong and he did it anyway," says Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Franz.
Had McMillan's attorney convinced the jury his client did not know the victim was under the age of 16, he could've been found not guilty on all of 9 felony charges, and only be facing 1 misdemeanor count of Corruption of Minors.
The judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed on McMillan, prior to sentencing. As part of the investigation, background information on the defendant will be compiled before the judge decides how to sentence McMillan.
The victim testified in court on Thursday. She admitted to having consensual oral sex and sexual intercourse with McMillan.
McMillan remains in Lancaster County Prison.
