Jury can’t reach verdict in child sex abuse trial

WATERTOWN — A jury could not reach a verdict Friday in Jefferson County Court on a case involving a Watertown man accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a girl. Prosecution against Sheldon B. Dukes, who was charged with felony first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and predatory sexual assault against a child, will continue despite the jury not reaching a conclusion after a day of deliberations. Chief Assistant District Attorney Patricia L. Dziuba said the case will have to be retried and a new jury selected. Mr. Dukes has been accused of engaging in sexual activities with a girl who was less than 10 years old from June 2011 to July 2013. Read Full Article

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David is a former military prosecutor and defense lawyer with over a decade of experience fighting for service members and their families. He served nine years and two combat tours as an active duty US Army officer, then joined the Reserves and settled down in Syracuse to be near family. Now representing people across Central New York charged with serious felonies, misdemeanors, DWIs, and traffic offenses, he puts the same level of commitment into his civilian law practice. If you have any questions regarding this article, you can contact David here.