Morning Journal/Deanne Johnson Craig Cross is taken into custody by Deputy Jen Calko in the Common Pleas Courtroom of Judge Megan Bickerton on Friday afternoon.

LISBON — Craig Cross, the man accused of sexually assaulting a child over a five-year period starting when she was only 4 years old, was found guilty by a Common Pleas Court jury on Friday.

Cross, 38, formerly of Depot Road, Salem, will face a potential life prison sentence without the possibility of parole. Two of the counts were first-degree felony rape charges. The jury noted that the child was under the age of 10 when the sexual assaults occurred, which is the reason for the lifetime sentence. The jury also found him guilty of two counts of sexual battery, each a second-degree felony charge, and two counts of gross sexual imposition, each a third-degree felony.

The majority of the evidence was presented mostly on Wednesday, including the testimony of the child, who at the age of 8 told her mother what had been happening with Cross, which included a variety of sexual assaults including penetration using his fingers. To protect the child from the trauma of testifying in front of Cross and a room full of jurors, she was allowed to be in another room with Judge Megan Bickerton, Assistant County Prosecutor Tammie Riley Jones and defense attorney Joe King, while the testimony was broadcast into the courtroom.

The defense presented testimony on Thursday, including Cross taking the stand in his own defense and denying the allegations. Jurors began deliberations late Thursday afternoon and resumed their discussions about the case on Friday morning.

“I’m pleased with the verdicts,” Jones said following the trial. “I believe justice has been done.”

Jones said the guilty verdicts represented the good work of the Perry Township Police Department, the Columbiana County Department of Jobs and Family Services Children Services division, the Akron Children’s Hospital Child Advocacy Center in Boardman and the investigator and victim’s advocate with the county prosecutor’s office.

“Tammie’s excellent work, along with that of our staff here at the Prosecutor’s Office, shows that we take crimes against children most-seriously,” said County Prosecutor Vito J. Abruzzino. “We will spare no expense and leave no stone unturned when it comes to giving a voice to child victims, ensuring their abusers are held accountable for their terrible crimes.”

Following the guilty verdict and dismissal of the jury, Bickerton asked if the attorneys were ready to proceed to immediate sentencing or if a date should be selected. The sentencing will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, after Jones asked for time in case family of the victim wanted a chance to come to the hearing and speak about the impact Cross has had on the child’s life.

djohnson@mojonews.com