A jury has found a Russell man guilty for sexually assaulting a victim that was between 3 and 4 years old.

Anthony M. Neese, 27, was found guilty on five felony charges including rape, statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors during the Wednesday trial.

The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a misdemeanor count of corruption.

“Whenever these types of cases arise, there are never any winners,” First Assistant District Attorney Cody Brown, who prosecuted the case, said after the jury’s decision.

“The Commonwealth is honored to bring justice to the victim and the victim’s family,” he added.

The criminal information filed in the case indicates that the crimes occurred between February 2018 and February 2020.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Neese admitted to having sexual contact at least twice with the girl, who was between the ages of 3 and 4 years old.

Neese allegedly contacted officials about the assault, according to the affidavit.

“The defendant disclosed… that he had sexually assaulted the victim.”

Neese told police he awoke on two or three occasions from “a drug and or alcohol issue” to the sexual activity, according to the affidavit. “The defendant… related he was drinking alcohol, doing drugs to include ingesting acid, smoking marijuana, and ingesting numerous prescription pills around the time of the incidents.”

Several members of the victim’s family allegedly knew of the assaults, according to the affidavit. Interviews “confirmed the victim had told” three adults “about the sexual assaults.”

According to information from the Pennsylvania State Police, four of the charges bring lifetime registration as a Megan’s Law sexual offender.

Online court records show that Neese remains behind bars in the county jail pending sentencing.