A jury in New London Superior Court has found a Groton man guilty of raping a teen he knows on two occasions in 2013 while acquitting him of one charge that he sexually assaulted her in 2012.

Mark E. Crouch, 57, faces up to 10 years in prison for two counts of third-degree sexual assault when Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed sentences him on Jan. 7. He may also be sentenced to a period of strict probation upon his release and will be required to register as a sex offender.

In taking the case to trial, Crouch rejected an offer to plead guilty in exchange for a five-year sentence.

At the trial last week, the victim had avoided looking at Crouch while testifying that he performed a sexual act on her at a home in Groton in 2012 and took her to the Sleep Inn and Motel 6 in Niantic for sexual encounters in the spring of 2013.

"I didn't really agree with him, but I was scared," she said under direct examination by prosecutor Theresa Anne Ferryman.

She testified that at the motel, Crouch offered her a sleep mask and she wore it "because I didn't want to see his face or remember." She left the courtroom in tears with her boyfriend and family members.

According to testimony, the victim sought the advice of a teacher who, as a mandatory reporter of abuse of children, immediately notified police. Crouch was arrested in July 2013.

At the trial, the jury watched a videotape of an interview of Crouch conducted by Groton Town Police investigator Bridget Nordstrom and Sgt. Kelly Crandall. 

Defense attorney Jeremiah Donovan had argued unsuccessfully to keep the recording from the jury, calling it "one of the most destructive interviews I've ever seen."

Crouch, who had submitted to the interrogation voluntarily, did not admit to sexual crimes, but implied that he thought it was legal to be involved in a sexual relationship with the teen.

Crouch had testified on his own behalf, asserting that nothing sexual had happened between him and the victim.

During her closing argument, Ferryman referenced a series of text messages between Crouch and the victim, calling them powerful evidence that Crouch was guilty. Ferryman also suggested that the jury view the interrogation video again.

The victim, Ferryman said, had "absolutely nothing to gain" by coming forward with her accusation.

Donovan had argued that details of the accusation were inconsistent, including the date and number of times that the 2012 sex assault occurred, and that the state had not proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The jury, comprising four men and two women, began deliberating at 2:30 p.m. Friday and at 4:05 p.m. asked to view the interrogation video. They finished watching the video Monday morning and reached a verdict after lunch. 

Crouch had worked as a systems administrator at the Lowes distribution center in Plainfield prior to his arrest in July 2013. He has been held in lieu of $300,000 bond while his case was pending.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN