Man gets 25-year term in rape of 12-year-old Troy-- Judge says Edmond E. Joseph "deserves the max" By BOB GARDINIER, Staff writer First published: Thursday, June 17, 2004 A man who bragged he was a disc jockey to lure a 12-year-old girl off a Troy street and into his apartment to rape her was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison. A jury last month found Edmond E. Joseph, 22, of 241 Second St. guilty of first-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child for the incident, which occurred last December. Joseph had nothing to say to Judge Patrick McGrath before his sentencing Wednesday but his victim wrote a letter to the court that was read by Assistant District Attorney Mark Portin. "He is a very bad man and I think he should spend the rest of his life in jail," the victim wrote. "God said 'forgive and forget,' but I can't." Portin asked for the maximum sentence, saying Joseph has shown no remorse. McGrath agreed. "Anyone who would have sex with a 12-year-old, in my opinion, certainly deserves the max," McGrath said. A jury May 26 found Joseph and Ygord Beliard, 25, of Brooklyn, guilty of luring two girls, 12 and 14, to a Troy apartment and attacking them last December. Beliard was convicted of second-degree rape, attempted sodomy and endangering the welfare of a child and could face up to 11 years in prison when he is sentenced next week. Beliard and Joseph enticed two girls, ages 12 and 14, back to Joseph's apartment under the guise of planning a party. Once back at the apartment, the men took the girls to separate rooms, where Beliard raped and attempted to sodomize the 14-year-old while Joseph raped the 12-year-old, prosecutors said. http://www.timesunion.com 6/27/2004 8:40:37 AM
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