AUBURN – A Mechanic Falls man who once went to prison for battering his baby son is appealing his recent conviction for molesting an underage girl.

Rocky V. Crowley, 48, was sentenced last month in Androscoggin County Superior Court to spend 13 months in prison and two years on probation.

He was scheduled to start serving his prison term on Tuesday, but was back in court that day seeking a stay pending his appeal.

After sentencing Crowley, a judge had allowed him to take a month while on bail to complete a carpentry job before reporting to jail. Crowley was given an additional day on Tuesday to prepare for his prison term. He is expected to report to Androscoggin County Jail on Wednesday morning.

Crowley’s request to remain free until after his appeal is heard by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was denied. He also applied to the high court to allow him to appeal his sentence.

Crowley was convicted by a jury in October of sexual abuse of a minor, unlawful sexual contact and two counts of unlawful sexual touching, all misdemeanors, stemming from his relationship with a Mechanic Falls girl who.

The victim testified in court that she regarded Crowley as a surrogate father at a time when her own father was often absent. She said she had felt loved by Crowley and his family.

She said Crowley was lenient and allowed she and a friend to smoke and drink after buying them cigarettes and alcohol. Crowley began molesting the girl in his bedroom, she said.

He must register as a sex offender for 10 years after his release from prison.

In 1993, Crowley was given an 8-year sentence after police charged him in connection with the death of his infant son, Chase, who was discovered dead in the motel room Crowley was sharing with a woman.

He served five years for convictions of aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

Copy the Story Link