A man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl who had gone missing from a park in Upstate New York last year was sentenced Wednesday to 47 years to life in prison.
Craig N. Ross Jr. 46, was arrested on a kidnapping charge on Oct. 2, 2023. He was accused of abducting Charlotte Sena from Moreau Lake State Park, about an hour north of Albany, and holding her hostage for two days.
He was later also charged with predatory sexual assault against a child, sexual abuse, assault and endangering the welfare of a child,
The girl, who went missing on Sept. 30, was found two days later inside a cabinet in a trailer in Milton, N.Y. behind Ross’ mother’s house, according to state police. Investigators were able to locate him by matching fingerprints found in a ransom note dropped off at the girl’s family home.
In February, Ross admitted to kidnapping the 9-year-old while she was riding her bike and then sexually assaulting her.
Ross, who had been tentatively scheduled to stand trial this month, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and predatory sexual assault of a child. The deal avoided the possibility of the young victim having to testify.
On Wednesday, Judge James Murphy III sentenced Ross to 25 years to life years for the kidnapping charge, and 22 years to life for the sexual assault. The sentences are to be served consecutively.
“He will be 93 years old when he’s even eligible to talk about parole consideration,” Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen told reporters Wednesday afternoon, according to the Times Union newspaper.
Ross declined to address the Saratoga County courtroom, Spectrum News Albany reported.
When handing down the sentence, Murphy said Ross’ refusal to say anything spoke “volumes to the kind of person” he was.
With News Wire Services
