Delaware News


Former Delaware pediatrician sentenced to prison for abuse

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, April 11, 2014



Georgetown – Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that former Sussex County pediatrician Melvin Morse, convicted earlier this year of abusing a child in his home, received a prison sentence today for his crimes.

 

“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable young victim under his care, inflicting violent physical and emotional abuse against her,” Biden said.  “We are pleased that he has received a prison sentence for his unspeakable crimes.”

 

On February 13, 2014, following a three week trial, Morse was convicted in Sussex County Superior Court on one count each of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree, Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, and Assault 3rd Degree and on three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  The Reckless Endangering 1st count for which Morse was found guilty related to a “waterboarding” incident that occurred in the upstairs bathroom of the home he shared with co-defendant Pauline Morse.  Pauline Morse was previously convicted of charges related to the crimes and testified against Melvin Morse at his trial.

 

Today, Judge Richard F. Stokes sentenced Morse to 3 years in prison followed by 2 years of intensive probation.  In addition, he ordered Morse to have no contact with the victim or her family, including co-defendant Pauline Morse, to fully comply with any mental health or substance abuse treatment recommended by his probation officer, to be evaluated for domestic violence treatment, and to perform 5 to 35 hours of community service each week unless he has secured separate employment.

 

At the conclusion of today’s hearing bail was revoked and Morse, who has been free on bail following his conviction, was taken into custody by the Department of Correction to begin serving his prison sentence.

 

Biden congratulated Deputy Attorneys General Melanie Withers and Casey Ewart for their excellent work prosecuting this case and the Delaware State Police for leading the thorough investigation that led to the prosecution.

 

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Former Delaware pediatrician sentenced to prison for abuse

Criminal Division | Department of Justice | Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Friday, April 11, 2014



Georgetown – Attorney General Beau Biden announced today that former Sussex County pediatrician Melvin Morse, convicted earlier this year of abusing a child in his home, received a prison sentence today for his crimes.

 

“This defendant preyed on a vulnerable young victim under his care, inflicting violent physical and emotional abuse against her,” Biden said.  “We are pleased that he has received a prison sentence for his unspeakable crimes.”

 

On February 13, 2014, following a three week trial, Morse was convicted in Sussex County Superior Court on one count each of Reckless Endangering 1st Degree, Reckless Endangering 2nd Degree, and Assault 3rd Degree and on three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  The Reckless Endangering 1st count for which Morse was found guilty related to a “waterboarding” incident that occurred in the upstairs bathroom of the home he shared with co-defendant Pauline Morse.  Pauline Morse was previously convicted of charges related to the crimes and testified against Melvin Morse at his trial.

 

Today, Judge Richard F. Stokes sentenced Morse to 3 years in prison followed by 2 years of intensive probation.  In addition, he ordered Morse to have no contact with the victim or her family, including co-defendant Pauline Morse, to fully comply with any mental health or substance abuse treatment recommended by his probation officer, to be evaluated for domestic violence treatment, and to perform 5 to 35 hours of community service each week unless he has secured separate employment.

 

At the conclusion of today’s hearing bail was revoked and Morse, who has been free on bail following his conviction, was taken into custody by the Department of Correction to begin serving his prison sentence.

 

Biden congratulated Deputy Attorneys General Melanie Withers and Casey Ewart for their excellent work prosecuting this case and the Delaware State Police for leading the thorough investigation that led to the prosecution.

 

# # #

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.