A District Court jury in Kemmerer has found a Star Valley man to be guilty on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree. Charles “Chuck” Merrell, 48 of Osmond, remains in custody in the Lincoln County Detention Center in Kemmerer.
The two day trial concluded on Thursday, October 30. The verdict was read at approximately 3:00 p.m. after roughly four hours of deliberation by the jury.
Court documents state that Merrell knowingly “Took immodest, immoral or indecent liberties” with a minor under the age of 17 on two separate occasions on or before the dates of October of 2021 and September of 2023. According to Statutory Authority, a person convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the third degree is “subject to imprisonment for not more than 15 years.” Sentencing will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
“As counsel for Mr. Merrell, I cannot comment on the outcome of the trial at this time,” Defense Attorney James Sanderson told SVI Media.
Lincoln County Attorney Spencer Allred provided a brief statement, saying “I would like to thank our local law enforcement officers and those in my office for their hard work in bringing this case together.”
