Lynn man found guilty of 2007 rape

SALEM – Jurors reached a verdict Monday afternoon in the trial of Richard Felton, of Lynn, finding him guilty of raping and kidnapping his neighbor last year on West Green Street.Salem Superior Court Judge David A. Lowy delayed sentencing a day, until Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.In the meantime, Felton, who had been free pending the outcome of his case, was placed in custody and will be held at the Middleton Jail until his punishment is imposed.The jury, comprised of seven women and five men, deliberated for about three and one-half hours before reaching their decision.Felton showed little emotion as the verdict was read.”She knew him. He was the boy next door, but sometimes the boy next door is not the boy you know,” said Assistant District Attorney Kate B. MacDougall in her closing summation as she asked the 12-person jury to find Felton guilty on all charges.She reminded them of how “fearful” the victim said she was, when Felton kept telling her not to scream or he would kill her and how he said to her “I’ve always desired you.”On the morning of Feb. 7, 2007, the then 19-year-old victim said he attacked her, bound her and sexually assaulted her.After that, the victim managed to flee from the home and went to a local market on Union Street where the clerk cut the packaging tape on her wrists and she called 911 in a hysterical voice saying she was almost raped.Jurors were able to listen to her hysterical voice on the 911 tape as part of the evidence introduced by the state.But defense lawyer Julie Buszuwski told another story, saying “they were just playing,” and it “got out of control,” while maintaining that the victim was angry and lying.Felton, 22, formerly of 11 West Green St., went on trial last week on charges of rape, kidnapping, indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and assault and battery.Felton did not take the stand in his own defense.He faces up to 20 years in state prison on the rape charge and 10 years in prison on the kidnapping and 10 years in prison on indecent assault and battery charge.