Former Lea County (NM) Sheriff's Deputy Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Assaulting 9-Year-Old
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 22, 2013
LOVINGTON, NM -- A former Lea County (NM) Sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to state prison for sexually assaulting a young girl.
Danny Surratt was sentenced to 18 years in prison on March 20th.
Jurors in the 9th Judicial District in Lovington, NM found Surratt guilty of first-degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor charges on February 15th.
Surratt, 62, was arrested on September 1, 2010 and accused of sexually assaulting both the 9-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister.
Surratt was a Lea County Sheriff's deputy at the time the the alleged incident took place.
According to The Carlsbad Current-Argus, Surratt was arrested after the 9-year-old girl reported the incident.
New Mexico State Police also investigated the claim.
During the trial against Surratt, the 9-year-old victim reportedly testified that Surratt sexually assaulted her and told her not to say anything.
Jurors deliberated for 6 hours before convicting Surratt.
Surratt is still waiting to stand trial on the same charges for the alleged sexual assault of the 16-year-old.
A Roswell, NM judge decided to divide the cases.
Danny Surratt was sentenced to 18 years in prison on March 20th.
Jurors in the 9th Judicial District in Lovington, NM found Surratt guilty of first-degree criminal sexual penetration of a minor charges on February 15th.
Surratt, 62, was arrested on September 1, 2010 and accused of sexually assaulting both the 9-year-old girl and her 16-year-old sister.
Surratt was a Lea County Sheriff's deputy at the time the the alleged incident took place.
According to The Carlsbad Current-Argus, Surratt was arrested after the 9-year-old girl reported the incident.
New Mexico State Police also investigated the claim.
During the trial against Surratt, the 9-year-old victim reportedly testified that Surratt sexually assaulted her and told her not to say anything.
Jurors deliberated for 6 hours before convicting Surratt.
Surratt is still waiting to stand trial on the same charges for the alleged sexual assault of the 16-year-old.
A Roswell, NM judge decided to divide the cases.
