A Mohave County superior court jury returned guilty verdicts in the trial of a man accused of sexually abusing his adopted daughter in Golden Valley. The jury deliberated for a little less than three hours on July 24 before convicting Shawn Cameron, 43, of luring a minor for sexual exploitation, sexual conduct with a minor and continuous sexual abuse of a child.
Prosecutor Greg McPhillips told the jury that the woman who is now 20 years old first remembers being abused around the age of five in California. He said that the illegal activity occurred regularly during a ten year period ending in Golden Valley in 2017 when investigation began after she told friends and a school resource officer.
McPhillips said the victim didn’t realize the activity was wrong for years, but learned otherwise as she matured. Both McPhillips and the victim told the jury that Cameron repeatedly committed sex offenses during regularly scheduled “affection time” on Wednesdays and Sundays.
“It made me feel dirty,” the victim testified. “It made me hate him.”
The defense team cross examined the victim about her delayed reporting and attempted to discredit her for youthful transgressions, including her admission that she once snuck out a window to attend a juvenile drinking party until 4:00 a.m. McPhillips and the victim countered that Cameron would schedule extra “affection time” sessions as punishment for misbehavior.
McPhilips said the convictions require a prison term and that almost 50 years would be the maximum punishment. Sentencing is scheduled August 27.
