Staunton man gets decades in prison for sexual assaults at apartment complex

STAUNTON — A Staunton man was given a lengthy prison term Thursday after being convicted of sexually assaulting three teenage girls at an apartment complex in the city, including raping one of them after plying her with alcohol.

The sexual assaults took place in 2020 and 2021.

The Staunton Police Department began investigating Meshach Selkridge, now 24, in June 2021 after he was accused of being in an inappropriate relationship with a young teen. An investigation into the allegations revealed there were three teenage victims in the case.

In 2022, the Staunton grand jury indicted Selkridge on 20 charges, including rape, aggravated sexual battery, attempted rape, taking indecent liberties with a child, forcible sodomy, carnal knowledge, producing child porn, and child solicitation. In September, he pleaded guilty to all of the charges.

Selkridge and the victims were living at the Elizabeth Miller Gardens apartment complex in Staunton when the sexual assaults occurred.

At a sentencing hearing Thursday in Staunton Circuit Court, Staunton Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Joseph Perry said the victims were all under the age of 16. Perry said Selkridge solicited nude photographs from the girls, and also filmed himself with them and took photographs of the sexual assaults.

Following his arrest, Selkridge, who was a special education student in high school, was declared mentally incompetent two times, testimony showed. He twice received treatment at Western State Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Staunton for adults, and his competency was restored both times, clearing the way for him to face the charges.

Brett Gardner, a clinical psychologist and an assistant professor at the UVA School of Medicine, testified Thursday that he interviewed Selkridge two times in 2022 for several hours. While he said he didn't feel Selkridge fully participated in either interview, Gardner added, "It became clear that one theme across all this was intellectual or cognitive deficits."

When asked if Selkridge knew right from wrong, Gardner said, "Broadly speaking, most likely, yes."

Testimony showed Selkridge was sexually and physically abused as a child, was homeless at times, had a brief stint in foster care, and also had a brother with intellectual disabilities. "His family had a lot of challenges," said Linda Czyzyk of the Staunton Public Defender's Office.

Czyzyk conceded that Selkridge should face some prison time, but said he'd shown remorse. "It's a real sad case, your honor," she said.

Perry acknowledged Selkridge's mental shortcomings, but said "that doesn't excuse his actions." The prosecutor said there was evidence he groomed the children by giving them gifts, marijuana and alcohol, and he noted Selkridge raped one of the victims at the apartment complex after she became inebriated.

Perry said Selkridge told the victims to keep quiet about the sexual assaults, which he said showed some "sophistication on his part" and indicated he knew what he did was wrong. "These children were not to blame for any of this," Perry said.

Given a chance to address the court, Selkridge apologized for his actions and said he will do better, and added that three years in Middle River Regional Jail had an impact on him. "Being locked up in there, it changed me," he said.

Circuit Judge Anne Reed, citing Selkridge's "manipulative conduct" and the age of the victims, sentenced him to a total of 20 years in prison and 20 years of probation upon his release.

"This is certainly a very difficult and sad case," Reed said.

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Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton man gets decades in prison for sexual assaults at apartment complex