Long pleads no contest in trial

Published 1:04 pm Tuesday, February 28, 2017

John Joseph Long

John Joseph Long

A 41-year-old Cumberland man pled no contest to aggravated sexual battery and indecent liberties with a child on Feb. 7 in Cumberland County Circuit Court — an action that stipulated the facts were sufficient enough for a finding of guilt according to the Cumberland County Circuit Court’s conviction order.

The order stated John Joseph Long was charged with two charges of indecent liberties with a child 15 years or younger and two charges of aggravated sexual battery with a victim 13 years or younger. The order notes the offense date took place between July 1, 2011 and July 31, 2013.

Long is set to be sentenced in Cumberland Circuit Court May 23.

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The court directed Long undergo a psycho-sexual evaluation, which is to be conducted by a qualified evaluator. The evaluation is to take place no later than May 17.

John’s wife, April Joy Long, pled guilty to child abuse and serious injury on Dec. 9 in Prince Edward Circuit Court, according to court records. April was sentenced to 10 years in jail with 10 years suspended and a two-year probation period

April Joy Long

April Joy Long

upon release.

The charges for April stemmed from an incident that allegedly took place on July 1, 2013. Both husband and wife were originally arrested on Sept. 23, 2015.

April also stood trial for an assault on law enforcement or Department of Corrections personnel.