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Utica man sent to state prison after admitting to raping Russell woman

Posted 3/18/19

By ANDY GARDNER North Country This Week CANTON -- A Utica man was sent to state prison on Monday after admitting to raping a woman in Russell. Harry Hurd was sentenced for one count of first-degree …

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Utica man sent to state prison after admitting to raping Russell woman

Posted

By ANDY GARDNER
North Country This Week

CANTON -- A Utica man was sent to state prison on Monday after admitting to raping a woman in Russell.

Harry Hurd was sentenced for one count of first-degree rape to seven years with 12 years of post-release supervision by Judge Jerome Richards in St. Lawrence County Court. He was also ordered to pay $1,425 in fees and surcharges. A permanent no-contact order of protection in favor of Hurd's victim was also put in place.

Hurd's victim read a statement prior to the sentencing and said "I lost my childhood because of him."

Hurd tried to withdraw his plea, saying he was unsatisfied with his defense council, Daniel Ramsey. He opted to keep his plea after the judge warned Hurd he was exposing himself to a state prison sentence of up to 75 years.

Judge Richards warned Hurd that he is required to participate in a sex offender treatment program while incarcerated, and if he doesn't own up to what he did, he won't be eligible for early release.

"If you go to state prison and you deny, they're not going to let you out. They're going to make you serve your full sentence," the judge said to the defendant. "Doesn't matter to me what you do. I'm just putting you on notice."

In other St. Lawrence County Court matters before Judge Richards on Monday:

• Ian O. Haney of St. Regis Falls pleaded not guilty to first-degree sexual abuse, child endangerment and forcible touching. He was released under probationary supervision. State police charged Haney with having sexual contact with a 10-year-old over the summer.