Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

2 sentenced in 2005 sex crime cases

The plea agreements keep the young victims from testifying.

By JONATHAN ABEL
Published June 1, 2007

LARGO - Two Largo sex offenders were sentenced to lengthy prison terms this week, about two years after committing their crimes.

In unrelated crimes, Eric Musgrave performed a sex act on a 4-year-old boy, and Cameron Williams forced a 10-year-old girl to have sex with him over the course of a few weeks.

On Tuesday, as part of plea agreements, both men pleaded guilty to attempted sexual battery, avoiding trial.

Coleen Chaney, victim advocate at the Largo Police Department, said it was "absolutely invaluable" that the victims did not have to testify because a trial would rehash the pain.

Musgrave's crime occurred in April 2005. A landscaper, Musgrave was spreading mulch in the back yard of a Largo home when a 4-year-old walked over to watch.

According to Largo police, Musgrave chatted with the boy a bit. Then, hidden behind a fence, he grabbed the boy by the waist, pulled down the boy's shorts and performed a sex act on the child. The boy told his parents what had happened, and Musgrave was arrested.

On Tuesday, Musgrave, 39, was sentenced to 15 years in state prison followed by 15 years of probation.

In a separate case, Williams, 23, received a 20-year prison sentence in connection with the rape of the Largo girl. The crime occurred in the weeks prior to Williams' September 2005 arrest.

The cases are among the 25 or 30 sexual batteries reported annually to the Largo Police Department, Chaney said.

Jonathan Abel can be reached at jabel@sptimes.com or 727 445-4157.

[Last modified May 31, 2007, 23:40:15]