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Charges against Amick cut to four; jury to continue deliberations todayDefendant adamantly denies child molestationBY BILL NEIL, Times Staff WriterThe most serious charges filed against a Gettysburg man accused of child molestation were dropped during a nine-hour session m Adams County court Tuesday, but the jury is still out on four others.President Judge Oscar F. Spicer sent the jurors home just before 6 p.m. after they indicated they were having problems reaching a decision following nearly three hours of discussion.It's been a long day in many ways, Spicer commented. We’ll try again tomorrow.The eight women and four men were empaneled Monday to consider charges filed against Ross Stanley Amick, 50, by the Gettysburg Borough Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by the state Attorney General's office.Amick is accused of sexually abusing two sisters, now ages 5 and 7, at a residence in which hb-hved with their mother off and on between Julyl983 ah'A October 1995. The accusations came to light after the girls' babysitter overheard the youngsters talking about Amick’s habit of tickling11 and hurting them, and brought the matter to the attention of their mother.The mother then contacted police, who investigated on Oct. 15, 1995, and filed charges.Among the charges dropped Tuesday were the most serious: rape, involuntary deviate sexualThere was absolutely no touching or tickling of areas that were not appropriate.—Defendant Ross Stanley Amickintercourse and statutory rape. Prosecutor Christopher Abrusso and Anthony Miley, Adams County's assistant public defender, agreed to drop those charges after the girls failed to detail the alleged incidents of abuse on the witness stand.The alleged victims were the first called to the stand by Abrusso.The younger girl, who was only 3-1/2 years old at the time of the incident in question, fidgeted as the prosecutor asked her questions. Sitting on a book placed on her chair in an effort to help her reach the microphone — and later sitting on a tipstaffs lap — the youngster repeatedly responded that she couldn't remember details of any misconduct by Amick.The jury was subsequently asked to consider only charges filed regarding her sister, who was then only 5 years old.The older sister testified that Amick, among other things, frequently gave us bad touches and undressed in front of them while their mother was(See TRIAL on Page A12)
Newspaper Details
Gettysburg Times
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Jan 15, 1997
Page 1
Full Page
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Jessica D.
PA, USA 06 Mar 2022
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