A Binghamton man with prior felony convictions faces a possible life sentence after a jury this week found him guilty of raping a minor.
Following a trial in Broome County Court, the jury convicted Willis Bickham Jr., 41, of first-degree rape, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child.
On June 24, 2023, Bickham took a 12-year-old girl into an apartment at 2 Green Street in Binghamton and engaged in sexual intercourse with her, according to prosecutors.
Bickham is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 24. He faces up to 25 years in state prison and 10 to 25 years of post-release supervision on the rape charge.
Willis has served sentences in state prison four times in the past, most recently when he was convicted in 2018 in Broome County Court on two drug sale felony charges .
He also had a previous conviction in Broome County for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two Sullivan County convictions, one for criminal possession of a controlled substance and the other for criminal possession of a weapon.
Based on his criminal history, the Broome County District Attorney’s Office will advocate for a sentence of 25 years to life under the persistent felony offender guidelines. Additionally, any sentence imposed will mandate registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act.
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"This conviction emphasizes our relentless commitment to justice and our commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our community," District Attorney F. Paul Battisti said.
The case was investigated by the Binghamton Police Department with the assistance of the Crime Victims Assistance Center.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Binghamton man faces possible life sentence after conviction for raping minor in 2023
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