Today, in Thayer County District Court, Judge Vicky Johnson sentenced Harold Stone to 30-40 years in prison. In June, a jury convicted Stone, age 60 years old, of four counts of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child and one count of felony Child Abuse at the conclusion of a six day trial.

In the fall of 2014, Stone began home schooling the 15 year old victim, at his business and home in Davenport. Stone and the victim became involved in a sexual relationship that continued until February 2015. The victim disclosed the sexual abuse in May 2015 and an investigation was initiated by the Thayer County Sheriff and the Nebraska Attorney General’s office. The investigation included a search of Stone’s residence which produced a variety of electronic evidence including digital photos, emails, and text messages. The evidence was a key part of the State’s case at trial.

Nebraska Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau legal team included Assistant Attorneys General Jason Bergevin and Sandy Allen who prosecuted the case, Investigators Kerry Crosby and Ed Sexton, and Ellen Reilly as the case victim-witness coordinator.