FAIRVIEW
A Major County jury on Saturday convicted former Custer County Sheriff Mike Burgess on multiple counts of sexually abusing inmates and defendants in a county drug court program.
The jury convicted Burgess on 13 felony counts, including five counts of second-degree rape, and recommended he serve 94 years in prison.
The 56-year-old former lawman initially was charged with 36 felony counts, but the jury acquitted him on 23.
"I didn't think he was guilty of anything," said Burgess' attorney, Steve Huddleston. He said he expects Burgess will appeal the convictions.
Huddleston maintained the accusers were either lying or that the sex between Burgess and the women was consensual. Under state law, an inmate cannot legally consent to sexual relations with a jailer or anyone else who controls the conditions of the prisoner's confinement.
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