Man guilty of sexually abusing a ten-year-old

A Springfield man was found guilty of assaulting a young girl in a jury trial before Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Cappelli.

Walter Faust, 43, of the 200 block of North State Road, was convicted of sexual assault of a child, unauthorized contact with a minor, enticement of a minor and endangering the welfare of a child.

The jury heard testimony from the victim, now 13, who told Assistant District Attorney Danielle Nispel that Faust sexually abused her twice when she was 10 years old.

The first incident occurred when she stubbed her toe and Faust was massaging her foot at a home in Newtown Township, she said.

“He started touching me with his hand under my pants and on my chest,” she said.

The girl said she was wearing pajamas and Faust put his hand under her top and touched her. He then put his hand inside her underwear and started rubbing her private parts, she said.

During the second attack, Faust again rubbed her breast under her shirt, the victim said. The two incidents occurred several months apart, she said.

Faust asked the girl not to tell what had happened, but a few months later she told her mother about the first incident. The girl said she retracted her story after her mother became angry.

“I got scared and told her it was a lie,” she said.

The victim said she later told her best friend, who in turn told the rest of her circle of friends. She said she also lied to the county youth welfare office during an initial investigation, but later revealed the truth.

Faust, represented by defense attorney Christopher Boggs, also testified and denied ever touching the victim inappropriately. He said the allegation was not considered a big deal because no one believed it to be credible at the time.

The jury deliberated for almost a day before returning a guilty verdict on all counts.

Cappelli has scheduled sentencing for December 11, pending psychological, psychiatric and psychosexual evaluations.

Faust remains free on bail of 10 percent of the $30,000.