CANTON — A 22-year-old Winthrop man was convicted in county court of raping a senior citizen in 2022.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary M. Pasqua today (Friday, May 5) announced that Mason Stone was found guilty of first-degree rape and second-degree assault as a sexually motivated felony by a St. Lawrence County trial jury following a two-week trial.

Evidence at the trial established that on the night of June 21, 2022, the defendant physically attacked and sexually assaulted the elderly victim inside her home, Pasqua said.

The victim was injured during the attack and was transported to the hospital where she underwent an examination to collect biological evidence.

Forensic scientists at the New York State Police Crime Lab successfully matched DNA found during the examination to Stone.

Stone is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10. He faces a mandatory prison term with a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 25 years, the district attorney said.

“This defendant perpetuated a horrific sexual assault upon a vulnerable senior citizen,” Pasqua said. “He then attempted to excuse his actions by claiming he was too intoxicated to commit this crime. The jury quickly saw through his insulting attempt to avoid consequences for his actions. Hopefully this jury’s verdict, and the defendant’s subsequent sentencing, will send a message to anyone in our community who thinks it is ever okay to force themselves onto another person. I commend the bravery and courage of the victim to come forward and testify in this case.”

Pasqua commended Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Joshua Haberkornhalm and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Peabody for their hard work and skilled prosecution.

Pasqua thanked the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Forensic Identification Unit, and Crime Lab for their assistance with the prosecution.