Medford Man Gets Life for Rape of Deaf Children

A Medford man was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday for raping two deaf children.

According to Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone, Philip Duffy, 48, was found guilty in August of eight counts of rape of a child, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of fourteen, five counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over fourteen, and posing a child in a state of nudity.

Duffy, initially indicted on the above charges in 2006, was not found guilty for disseminating child pornography.

“Philip Duffy preyed on two young, vulnerable children, and horribly changed their lives forever. There are no more disturbing crimes than the abuse of our children, and this life sentence is reflective of the devastation that this defendant inflicted on these children and their families. We could not have successfully prosecuted this case without the bravery of the victims coming forward and explaining what had happened to them. We also thank Judge Kottmyer for sending a clear message that those who are found guilty of such despicable crimes against our children will be punished as such – and a life sentence is certainly appropriate based on the heinous nature of these crimes and the extreme vulnerability of these victims,” said District Attorney Leone in a statement.

The DA said Duffy targeted his female victims because they were young and extremely vulnerable, abusing one victim for nearly four years beginning when she was 12 years old. The victims and the defendant were all known to each other and the assaults occurred at Duffy’s house on various occasions.

Middlesex Superior Court Judge Diane Kottmyer sentenced Duffy to a life term in prison with an additional 10-12 years to be served from and after that sentence.

The prosecutor in this case was Assistant District Attorney Katharine Folger, Chief of the Child Abuse Unit and the victim witness advocate was Kara Grant.

– InsideMedford.com