LA PLATA, Md. (Sept. 10, 2013)—Michael Anderson Hurd, of Newburg, a Charles County Correctional Officer in the Detention Center, pled guilty yesterday to Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
At a plea and sentencing hearing before Charles County Circuit Court Judge Jerome R. Spencer, Hurd, 42, entered into a plea agreement with the State. Pursuant to the plea agreement Hurd plead guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and the State agreed to dismiss other related charges including Second Degree Rape and Incest among others.
At the plea hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Tiffany Campbell stated that, between August 1, 2009 and October 28, 2012, Hurd sexually abused the child in his Newburg residence. In an interview with police, the minor victim said Hurd purchased sex toys for the minor, showed the minor how to use them and used the toys on the minor. Hurd also reportedly used other objects and engaged in other sexual acts with the minor. In an interview with police, Hurd reportedly admitted that he in fact purchased the sex toys for the minor's use and showed the minor how to use them.
The police also spoke with Hurd's wife who corroborated much of what the minor child said including the purchase of sex toys and the use of other objects on the minor victim.
A search warrant was performed on Hurd's house and several items were recovered, including a synthetic penis. The items were sent to the Maryland State Police Crime Lab, along with the DNA of the victim and Hurd. The results of the DNA testing showed that there was a mixture of Hurd's DNA and the victim's DNA found on the synthetic penis corroborating the victim's account.
During the sentencing phase of the hearing the minor victim addressed the Court saying, "he/she always thought that Hurd was the one person the minor could trust in life but that turned out not to be true." The minor was "… happy that justice was being done and that Hurd was going to jail where he belongs." Campbell said that she was pleased with the outcome of the case. Campbell also wanted to thank Detective Sergeant Kelly and Child Protective Services Agent Brenda Carr for the excellent investigation of this matter." Hurd was sentenced to 25 years with all suspended but 7 years. Hurd is required to register as a sex offender for life.
State's Attorney Tony Covington commented that "This case should remind everyone that sex offenders and abusers come from every walk of life and all of us must be vigilant at all times. Don't ever overlook something that doesn't seem right just because of someone's status in life. If something seems wrong to you do something about it. Say something to someone in authority. If you're wrong you can always apologize. But if your suspicions were right and you failed to act, how do you say you're sorry to a child that has had to endure the horrors this child endured? You can't. You just can't."
Source: Office of State's Attorney for Charles County