Goshen man gets 18 years to life for sexually assaulting a child

GOSHEN - A Goshen man who previously pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child was sentenced to 18 years to life in state prison in Orange County Court on Wednesday.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced the sentence for Craig Merlock, 45, of Goshen.

Merlock pleaded guilty to predatory sexual assault against a child, a felony, in May.

Merlock admitted during the plea proceedings that on July 23, 2023, he engaged in oral sexual conduct with a child under 13.

At the sentencing, the people had recommended Merlock be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, which is the maximum sentence permitted by law.

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Merlock also will be required to register as a sex offender under the terms of the sentence.

"The admitted conduct of this defendant rightfully resulted in one of the strongest punishments available to the justice system," Hoovler said in a statement released by his office. "While nothing could ever restore to the victim what was lost by the defendant's actions, it is nonetheless important to the safety of our community that this offender is removed from society for as long as possible."

The name of Merlock's attorney was not immediately available.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Goshen man gets 18 years to life for sexually assaulting a child