Gap man guilty of child assault
By JANET KELLEY
Lancaster
Updated Mar 14, 2010 22:08

A Gap man was convicted last week of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old boy.

Joseph Crossan, 48, was charged by state police with assaulting the child at various times in 2008 and 2009 while the boy was visiting his home.

After a jury trial in Lancaster County Court, Crossan was convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault of a child, indecent assault of a child and corruption of minors.

Judge Dennis Reinaker ordered a background investigation be completed before he imposes sentence.

State Trooper Linda Gerow charged Crossan in August after the boy told his father about the assaults. The father,  in turn, contacted state police.

Assistant District Attorney Karen Mansfield prosecuted the case, and defense attorney James Gratton represented Crossan.

Also in Lancaster County Court recently, Charles Robert Lewis, 27, of Philadelphia, was convicted by a jury of illegally possessing a firearm.

President Judge Joseph Madenspacher ordered a background investigation be completed before he imposes sentence.

Lewis was arrested in November 2008 after two city policemen on patrol spotted him sitting in a vehicle parked behind a West King Street business and noticed a handgun in his pants pocket, police said.

Police said they ordered Lewis to keep his hands in view and to get out of the vehicle. Instead, they said, Lewis reached for his pocket.

The policemen dragged Lewis out of the vehicle, but he pulled free and started running south on Mary Street.

Lewis fell and reached toward his gun, police said. Officers Andrew Mease and Jay Freeland Hatfield responded with gunfire, shooting Lewis in the arm, back and leg.

Because Lewis has a prior conviction for drug dealing, he is not permitted to carry a gun.

The defense argued that police  never saw the gun and that Lewis never returned fire.

City police Detective Roland Breault brought the charges, Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Flannery prosecuted the case and defense attorney Cory Miller represented Lewis.

Other charges from the incident are pending.

According to news accounts at the time, Lewis was charged with carrying $2,700 worth of crack in addition to the handgun.

jkelley@lnpnews.com

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