County man found guilty of sex crimes

By Whitney Vickers

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XENIA — Michael Lancaster, 65, of Fairborn, was found guilty of committing sex crimes against a juvenile.

He was found guilty of all seven charges that include: rape, a felony of the first degree; gross sexual imposition, a felony of the third degree and illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented material or performance, a felony of the second degree. He pled not guilty.

He will be sentenced 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 according to court records.

The victim was asked to take the stand again Thursday, Sept. 22 but only explained that the alleged crimes occurred within the county. The detective who handled the case also took the stand once more, confirming that the alleged crimes occurred in Xenia Township.

Assistant prosecutors Alice DeWine and David Hayes and defense attorney Samuel Petroff delivered closing remarks before Judge Michael Buckwalter offered jury instructions.

Hayes reminded the jury of Lancaster’s charges, including a definition of each crime and how it applied to what had been revealed during the trial.

Petroff, explained to the jury the relationship between Lancaster and his son, and how the possibility of Lancaster being set up by his son existed.

DeWine offered the final closing statement, saying that the possibility of Lancaster being set up was “absurd” due to the timing of the crimes in comparison to when the case was turned into the police, as well as the circumstances of his son’s life. She said she was pleased with the outcome.

Thursday marked the fourth day of the trial. The jury began deliberating Thursday just around lunchtime and had made a decision by approximately 3 p.m. DeWine said rape of a child under 10 years of age, one of Lancaster’s charges, carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.

Lancaster’s attorney, Samuel Petroff, could not be reached for comment.

Whitney Vickers | Greene County News Lancaster during the trial in Greene County Court.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/09/web1_DSC_0689-1.jpgWhitney Vickers | Greene County News Lancaster during the trial in Greene County Court.

Reach Whitney Vickers at 937-502-4532.