Man convicted of child sex crimes after victim testifies at trial in Peach County
A Peach County jury convicted a man of having sexual contact with a young member of his family last week, prosecutors with the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.
Michael Todd Durham, 57, was found guilty of one count of child molestation on June 27 for “predatory actions against a family member that dated back to 2017,” prosecutors said. The victim in the case was 13 years old at the time of the incident. Durham was taken into custody after the guilty verdict, according to the news release.
A Peach County jury delivered the verdict despite numerous challenges presented to the prosecution in the case, including an alleged effort from a defense team investigator who “attempted to discourage a state’s witness from testifying,” according to prosecutors. The age of the case, considering the facts were mostly from 2017, was also a challenge to prosecutors.
“Through the combined efforts of the Peach County victim advocates, investigators and prosecutors, who stayed in close contact with the families, the witnesses were continually reassured of our Office’s commitment to pursuing justice in this case,” prosecutors said.
The victim in the case, as well as two other family members who experienced inappropriate sexual contact with Durham when they were ages 7 and 13, testified in the trial. The victim traveled from another state back to Peach County “to tell her truth to the jury,” prosecutors said.
District Attorney Anita Howard explained that the conviction represented “unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” according to a news release.
“While this case presented significant challenges, our dedicated Team worked tirelessly to ensure this brave victim received the justice she deserved,” Howard said. “I am so proud of her and the two other witnesses who demonstrated incredible courage to participate in this trial.”
Durham faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, but he will be sentenced at a later date, prosecutors said.
