Albany

A 45-year-old city man was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum 25 years to life for repeatedly raping a young girl later diagnosed with herpes.

Maurice Skeen, known as "Bolo," was convicted at trial July 23 of predatory sexual assault of a child for attacking the girl, now 11, between 2006 and 2012.

The charge, known as "Jessica's Law," is intended for the worst acts of sexual assault against children. It was named after 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, who was killed by a sex offender in Florida in 2005.

Skeen's defense attorney, public defender Michael Feit, tried to delay the sentencing, saying his client has fallen victim to attacks at the Albany County jail, at which he is now in protective custody. State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Breslin denied the request.

Skeen then listened as an emotional statement from the victim's grandmother was read by the prosecutor to the judge.

"The defendant has robbed her of the opportunity to have a normal and happy childhood," stated the letter read by Assistant District Attorney Christina Calabrese. "She should not be feeling so different from other 11-year-old girls, but she does ... she should be a carefree and happy little girl and she's not. She's a very unhappy and angry child."

In June 2012, police went to a Southern Boulevard location looking to speak to Skeen, who hid in a basement for five hours. Skeen, a Jamaican immigrant, claimed in his testimony he thought police were there to speak to him over an immigration issue. He denied attacking the girl, an argument Feit continued to make on Wednesday.

Feit said no physical evidence connected his client to a rape of the child or even showed proof she was sexually assaulted. He dismissed the fact that the victim and Skeen were later diagnosed with a form of herpes, a sexually transmitted disease.

Calabrese told Breslin: "Judge, I think the evidence in this case speaks for itself. The defendant subjected this child to years of sexual abuse — something she will have to struggle with to overcome for the rest of her life. The only sentence that should be imposed in this case is the maximum sentence allowable by law."

When afforded a chance to speak, Skeen paused, then said: "I don't believe I got a fair trial, your honor."

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Breslin said the jury verdict was consistent with facts presented at the trial.

"A young life has been unalterably changed by virtue of your client's actions," Breslin told Feit. "No 'ifs,' 'ands' or 'buts.' That child has been damaged, hopefully not beyond repair, by your client's actions."

Feit said he plans to appeal. He told reporters he was worried about his client's welfare in prison.

"Anyone who knows anything about correctional confinement should know that it's not the Waldorf Astoria," Feit said, referring to the famous luxury hotel in Manhattan. "It's a very dangerous place at best ... people who are accused of sex offenses, convicted of sex offenses are the prime target for people who feel the need to physically strike out against others. Mr. Skeen has experienced that ... prison is not going to be any different. It's going to be the same kind of thing."

rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU